Similarly increased odds of no treatment were reported for patients with comorbidities and poor performance status indicators.
“In a subset of older and frail patients, the risks of treatments approved for [multiple myeloma] might outweigh the benefits or might not be in line with the individual’s goals of care,” the investigators wrote.
The study did not track supportive-care treatments that patients may have received instead of active disease treatment, such as bisphosphonates for skeletal lesions or plasmapheresis for hyperviscosity syndrome.
Lack of treatment was associated with poorer survival in the study. Median overall survival was just 9.6 months for individuals with no record of treatment, compared with 32.3 months for patients who had received treatment.
Dr. Fakhri and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures related to the study, which was supported by the National Cancer Institute.
SOURCE: Fakhri B et al. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2018 Mar;18(3):219-24.