Multiple Myeloma: Real-world Data on the Clinical Presentation and Outcomes From Oman

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Limited data exists on multiple myeloma (MM) in Oman and the surrounding region.
• Understanding the clinical presentation and survival outcomes of Omani MM patients is crucial for regional healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of multiple myeloma patients treated at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).
• To provide baseline data on MM in Oman for future comparative studies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 98 MM patients diagnosed and treated at SQUH between June 2008 and December 2018.
• Data collection included demographics, disease characteristics, and survival outcomes from electronic medical records.
• Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis, stratified by International Staging System (ISS) stage.

Main Results:

• The median age of patients was 61 years, younger than reported globally. Most patients (44%) presented with advanced ISS stage III disease.
• Anemia (50%), lytic lesions (41.5%), and renal insufficiency (24.2%) were common initial manifestations.
• Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 59 months and median overall survival (OS) was 109 months. ISS stage significantly predicted OS (p < 0.001) but not PFS.

Conclusions:

• Omani MM patients tend to be younger and present with more advanced disease compared to international cohorts.
• Advanced ISS stage is a significant predictor of poorer survival in this population.
• Further collaborative studies with larger cohorts are recommended to investigate treatment efficacy due to treatment variations and small sample size.