Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients With Multiple Myeloma Treated in Routine Clinical Practice in France.

INTRODUCTION

New therapies for multiple myeloma (MM) have improved life expectancy, but health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data from patients with MM in the real-world setting are lacking. This study, conducted in France, explored the associations between treatment outcomes and HRQoL in patients with MM.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study enrolled patients (≥ 18 years old) with symptomatic MM who had consulted a physician at least once between February and March 2016. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the Quality of Life Multiple Myeloma module (QLQ-MY20).

RESULTS

In total, 445 patients were included in the study; 402 (90%) completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20 questionnaires. HRQoL decreased significantly with treatment line. Patients in the first treatment-free interval had relatively high scores. At later lines, patients receiving active treatment had better scores than those whose treatment had ended. High EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status scores were associated with good treatment response, few adverse events, and long duration of treatment, and were strongly influenced by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. Global health status scores correlated well with the 4 items of the QLQ-MY20 (future perspective, 0.46; body image, 0.41; disease symptoms, -0.57; side effects of treatment, -0.53).

CONCLUSION

Effective treatment options in MM can help maintain HRQoL by influencing treatment response levels and delaying disease progression.