The influence of clinical stage, race, and gender on factors which impact quality of life in multiple myeloma.

person Meghan Luhowy University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD info_outline Meghan Luhowy, Katrina Binion, Tiffany Warfield, Rebecca Bosley, Elizabeth Krauss, Ashraf Badros

Authors person Meghan Luhowy University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD info_outline Meghan Luhowy, Katrina Binion, Tiffany Warfield, Rebecca Bosley, Elizabeth Krauss, Ashraf Badros Organizations University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Abstract Disclosures Research Funding No funding received None Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is unique among hematologic malignancies as an incurable disease. Patients are affected long-term by the disease symptoms as well as psychological, financial burden, and social impact, which may affect overall quality of life (QOL). The current literature related to QOL in MM is largely limited to a single clinical stage, impact concurrent with a specific treatment regimen, or focused on a single QOL factor. Changes in impact on QOL based on longitudinal follow up during the disease course have not been readily assessed. Here, we evaluated patient-reported QOL measures utilized by one time validated questionnaires. Methods: The study enrolled 100 participants in a sequential manner from the Myeloma Clinic at UMGCC with a diagnosis of plasma cell disorders at various stages: MGUS, smoldering myeloma, or multiple myeloma: newly diagnosed, maintenance, relapsed. Participants provided verbal responses to a series of questions listed in Table. Questions aligned with three main domains: physical symptoms and function, mental health, and social systems. The following is an interim analysis of the first 50 patients. Results: This sample of myeloma patients (N=50; males n=26), felt their QOL was impacted by myeloma symptoms (70%). More African American participants reported impact from financial burden (6, 50%) in comparison to Caucasian and other races (10, 26%). Interestingly, males reported less impact on sexual intimacy (3, 15%) than females (6, 43%). Females also reported more impact from financial burden (10, 42%) compared to males (6, 23%). Conclusions: Changes to impact on QOL as a function of clinical MM stage, race, and/or gender will be fully evaluated. Planned analyses include correlation statistics by age and social demographics to determine patterns in patient-reported outcomes. Finally, second interviews with current participants will be conducted to determine changes to impact across the same QOL variables over time. QUESTION All participants African American Caucasian + Other Race Response Yes No NA Yes No NA Yes No NA Do you feel myeloma symptoms affected your quality of life (QOL)? 35, 70% 15 0 8, 67% 4 0 26, 68% 12 0 Do you feel treatment side effects have affected your QOL? 22, 46% 26 2 4, 36% 7 1 17, 46% 20 1 Do you feel that myeloma has had an impact on sexual intimacy? 9, 26% 25 16 2, 29% 5 5 7, 26% 20 11 Do you feel that your bone marrow transplant experience had an impact on your QOL? 14, 48% 15 21 1, 17% 5 6 11, 52% 10 17 Do you feel that myeloma has had an impact on your spirituality or religion? 19, 38% 30 1 4, 33% 8 0 14, 38% 23 1 Do you feel that fatigue has had an impact on your QOL? 37, 74% 13 0 8, 67% 4 0 29, 76% 9 0 Do you feel financial burden as a result of your myeloma? 16, 32% 34 0 6, 50% 6 0 10, 26% 28 0 Total number of patients 50 12 38 Each QOL question posed to participants by race.