Multiple Myeloma Incidence and Mortality Around the Globe; Interrelations Between Health Access and Quality, Economic Resources, and Patient Empowerment.

Background: The interrelation between the worldwide incidence, mortality, and survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and relevant factors such as Health Care Access and Quality (HAQ) index, gross domestic product (GDP), health care expenditures, access to cancer drugs, and patient empowerment has not been addressed before.

Material And Methods: Epidemiologic data were obtained from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (expressed as 1-MIR) was used as proxy for 5-year survival.

Quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma during ixazomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone induction and ixazomib maintenance therapy and comparison to the general population.

This trial evaluated quality of life (QoL) using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-MY20 instruments in 90 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma during induction and maintenance therapy with eight cycles of ixazomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone, followed by 12 months of ixazomib maintenance therapy. When patient's baseline QoL was compared with data of the general population, a significant impairment in health-related QoL, physical, role, and social functioning and several other dimensions, as well as more pain and fatigue, was noted. Induction therapy resulted in significant improvement of pain and worsening of neuropathy, with no significant variation of other parameters.