Trends in Early Mortality From Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Analysis

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) treatment has advanced, yet early mortality (death within 6 months of diagnosis) remains a significant concern.
• Rates and causes of early mortality in MM patients are variable and trends over time are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in early mortality for multiple myeloma patients.
• To identify sociodemographic factors associated with early all-cause and MM-specific mortality.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for MM cases diagnosed between 1975 and 2015.
• Conducted multivariate analysis to assess sociodemographic factors linked to early mortality.
• Employed joinpoint regression analysis to examine trends in early mortality over time.

Main Results:

• Early mortality was observed in 21% of 90,975 MM patients; median age was 75 years in this cohort.
• MM, cardiovascular disease, infections, and renal failure were leading causes of early death.
• Increased risk of early mortality was associated with male gender, "other" race/ethnicity, older age, and specific US regions.

Conclusions:

• Early mortality in multiple myeloma is a persistent challenge, despite recent improving trends.
• Identifying risk factors is essential for developing personalized patient care strategies to mitigate early death.