Changes in income and employment after diagnosis among patients with multiple myeloma in The Netherlands

Abstract

ObjectiveDue to new treatment options, survival rates in multiple myeloma (MM) are improving. Consequently, maintaining work and income is becoming more important for patients and society. Therefore, we aimed to explore the change in income and employment in patients with MM. MethodsData from the Netherlands Cancer Registry of MM patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2017 were merged with socioeconomic data from Statistics Netherlands. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse total income, income from employment, and accumulated income before and after diagnosis. ResultsIncome from employment decreased by 45% in MM patients, between 1 year before and 4 years after diagnosis Four years after diagnosis, 35% of the patients were still employed, with an accumulated 5-year productivity loss of €121 million. Higher income loss from employment and job loss was observed in female patients, patients with more extensive disease, or those not treated with autologous stem cell transplant. ConclusionLoss of (income from) employment among patients with MM was high, causing financial burden on the patient and society. With improving survival in MM, more research and awareness are needed to better assess the importance of income and work for MM patients and society. Micro abstractThis study investigated the changes in income in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in The Netherlands. Both income from employment and employment decreased considerably between 1 year before and 4 years after diagnosis in MM patients, emphasising the need for more awareness about the effect of being diagnosed with MM on income and employment.