Effects of socioeconomic and clinical factors on survival in multiple myeloma

It was recently reported that low socioeconomic status (SES) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients is associated with a poorer prognosis. To reassess this finding in another group of MM patients, we used data from interviews of 153 MM patients seen at Duke University Medical Center over a 6-year period. Medical records were also reviewed for data on traditional clinical prognostic factors. Using proportional hazard survival analysis, no SES variables were associated with survival. Current income, highest income, occupation, type of dwelling, years of education, and crowding did not enter the stepwise regression model at alpha = .10. In contrast, many clinical factors predicted prognosis (calcium, P = .019; percent plasma cells on initial bone marrow, P = .019; history of transfusions, P = .015; WBC count, P = .007; pathologic fractures, P = .001; and urate, P less than .001). Thus, we do not confirm the previously reported association between social class and myeloma survival.