A Cross-sectional Exploratory Study on Symptom Correlations in Multiple Myeloma Patients During Initial Treatment...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Revised (ESAS-r) measures nine symptoms in cancer patients, including multiple myeloma (MM).
• Routine assessment of all ESAS-r symptoms can be challenging due to time and resource constraints.
• The correlation between patient "well-being" and other symptoms in MM patients is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the symptoms experienced by multiple myeloma patients during initial treatment using the ESAS-r.
• To analyze the relationship between patient "well-being" and other symptoms assessed by the ESAS-r.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 36 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma undergoing induction therapy (bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone).
• Analysis of ESAS-r data to determine correlations between "well-being" and other symptoms, including pain and anxiety.
• Statistical analysis to assess the association of pain and anxiety with clinical cutoff values.

Main Results:

• "Well-being" showed a significant correlation with pain (rs=0.711) and anxiety (rs=0.638).
• Pain (p=0.0053) and anxiety (p=0.0336) were significantly associated with the clinical cutoff value.
• Focusing on "well-being" may facilitate early detection of difficult-to-express symptoms like pain and anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Assessing "well-being" via ESAS-r can improve early intervention for multiple myeloma patients experiencing pain and anxiety.
• Integrating "well-being" screening into consultations, supported by multidisciplinary teams, can enhance patient quality of life.
• Pharmacist involvement in multidisciplinary care may significantly improve outcomes for multiple myeloma patients.