Classification of symptom subtypes in patients with multiple myeloma during treatment: a cross-sectional survey study...

To classify subgroups of cancer-related symptoms in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) during treatment and examine between-group differences in demographic and clinical characteristics in addition to functional status.

Cross-sectional survey study.

Haematology department of two tertiary hospitals affiliated with Guilin Medical University in China.

Using a convenience sampling method, questionnaires were distributed to patients with MM visiting two hospitals in Guilin, China.

The patients were categorised into subgroups based on cancer-related symptoms using a latent class analysis. An analysis of covariance was performed to examine how demographic and clinical characteristics and functional status differed among the subgroups.

In total, 216 patients completed the survey, with an average age of 60.3 years. A three-class solution was identified: low symptom burden group (class 1, 36.6%), moderate symptom burden group (class 2, 34.2%) and high symptom burden group (class 3, 29.2%). Patients with low monthly family income (OR=3.14, p=0.010) and complications of MM bone disease (OR=2.95, p=0.029) were more likely to belong to class 2. The predictors of high-burden symptoms were treated with painkillers, antidepressants or hypnotic drugs (OR=3.68, p=0.012) and <5000 daily step counts (OR=2.52, p=0.039) in class 3. Functional status was correlated with symptom burden, with patients in classes 3 and 1 reporting significantly higher and lower functional status, respectively (p<0.05).

Patients with MM experienced varying degrees of symptoms during treatment. The identification of patients with high symptom burden management should focus on the assessment of demographic and clinical characteristics, in addition to functional status.