From the Journals

Socioeconomic factors affect survival of multiple myeloma patients


 

FROM HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY AND STEM CELL THERAPY

Disparities driven by socioeconomic factors have been shown to affect outcomes for patients with a variety of cancer types. Researchers found that this was also true for patients with multiple myeloma, according to a report published in Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy.

In particular, survival was affected by a variety of socioeconomic factors.

Researchers conducting the study queried the National Cancer Database for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2004 and 2016. Only those 56,102 patients who received systemic therapy as the first-line treatment were included, according to Thejus T. Jayakrishnan, MD, of Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, and colleagues.

Enrollment rates for therapy were calculated using receiving systemic therapy as the incident event of interest (numerator) over time to initiation of therapy (denominator). The incident rate ratios were analyzed using Poisson regression. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used for survival analysis of 50,543 patients, and differences were determined as hazard ratios.

Significant differences

The study showed that therapy enrollment was significantly affected by race and sex (P < .005), with the enrollment rate for women and for non-Hispanic Blacks both being lower versus men and non-Hispanic Whites, respectively.

Advanced age, earlier year of diagnosis, lack of insurance or Medicaid, and higher comorbidity were found to be associated with poor survival (HR >1), whereas being a woman or a non-Hispanic Black (who were speculated to have more favorable cytogenetic profiles), having a higher income, and having treatment at an academic center were all associated with improved survival (each category at HR <1).

“Disparities in [multiple myeloma] exist and are caused by a complex interplay of multiple factors, with socioeconomic factors such as insurance and income playing a dominant role. The disparities not only exact high human cost but also negatively impact the economics of health care,” the researchers concluded.

The study was not funded and the authors reported that they had no relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Jayakrishnan TT et al. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2020 Oct 10. doi: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.09.005.

Recommended Reading

Recombinant vaccine cut herpes zoster rate in immunocompromised patients
MDedge Internal Medicine
Bispecific CAR T-cells yield high response rate in relapsed/refractory myeloma
MDedge Internal Medicine
Maintaining cancer care in the face of COVID-19
MDedge Internal Medicine
First report of MM patient successfully treated for COVID-19 with tocilizumab
MDedge Internal Medicine
ASH tackles COVID-19 with hematology-related FAQ, promotes new registries
MDedge Internal Medicine
Tandem transplantation, long-term maintenance may extend MM remission
MDedge Internal Medicine
Transitioning regimen may prolong proteasome inhibitor–based therapy for MM
MDedge Internal Medicine
E.U. gives thumbs up for belantamab in R/R multiple myeloma
MDedge Internal Medicine
Age, other risk factors predict length of MM survival
MDedge Internal Medicine
Older adults with multiple myeloma face heavy burden of care
MDedge Internal Medicine