The prognostic significance of age in Hodgkin's disease: examination of 1500 patients (BNLI report no. 23).

Patients who were 50 years of age or older made up 21% of this group of 1500 patients. The survival of this age group was considerably less than that of younger patients. This difference in survival was present in both sexes, in all histological subtypes and clinical stages and in patients both with and without systemic 'B' symptoms. The overall difference in survival was only partly abolished by allowing for the reduced survival which occurs in all old people in the general population. Fewer of the older patients than the younger patients achieved complete remission. The relapse-free actuarial rate in patients who achieved complete remission appeared to be unaffected by age, being the same for the older patients as for the younger patients. However, in the event of relapse the survival of older patients was reduced.