Amyloidosis: Statistics

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 03/2023

ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the estimated number of people who will be diagnosed with amyloidosis each year. You will also read general information on surviving the disease. Remember survival rates depend on several factors, and no 2 people are the same. Use the menu to see other pages.

Every person is different, with different factors influencing their risk of being diagnosed with this disorder and the chance of recovery after a diagnosis. It is important to talk with your doctor about any questions you have around the general statistics provided below and what they may mean for you individually. The original sources for these statistics are provided at the bottom of this page.

How many people are diagnosed with amyloidosis?

Because amyloidosis is rare, the diagnosis is often delayed or the condition is not diagnosed. Therefore, it is difficult to know exactly how many people are affected by this disease. It is estimated that about 4,000 people in the United States develop amyloid and light chain (AL) amyloidosis each year. The disease is typically diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 65. However, people as young as 20 have also been diagnosed with AL amyloidosis.

Hereditary and autoimmune amyloidosis (AA) are less common than AL amyloidosis. Some research notes that the number of cases of AA amyloidosis are declining due to better treatments of the underlying inflammatory conditions.

What is the survival rate for amyloidosis?

The survival rate for AL amyloidosis varies based on several factors. These include a person’s age and general health and how well the treatment plan works. Other factors than can affect outcomes include how early the condition is diagnosed and if and how the heart is affected.

Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Statistics and information adapted from the National Organization for Rare Disorders and Medscape websites. (All sources accessed February 2023.)

The next section in this guide is Risk Factors. It describes the factors that may increase the chance of developing amyloidosis. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.