Abstract
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple myeloma (MM) has gained increasing importance to ensure that improved survival is associated with improved life quality. The aim of this study was to assess the HRQoL in a cohort of myeloma patients from the Kurdistan region in Iraq. This observational, cross-sectional, multi-center study enrolled 138 symptomatic MM patients. The patients' records were retrieved, and the patients were clinically assessed and appropriately investigated at the time of enrollment. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Multiple Myeloma module (EROTC QLQ-MY20). The 138 patients included had a mean age of 60.4 years and included 83 men and 55 women. Significant predictors of worse HRQoL disease symptoms and side effects of treatment domains included increasing age, female sex, and an increased number of treatment courses. Other predictors associated with the worse disease symptom domain include the presence of bone lesions and non-secretory myeloma versus light chain myeloma. Basic parameters including the concentration of the monoclonal band, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, calcium, and albumin were not significantly associated with scores in any of the domains, whereas serum lactate dehydrogenase was associated with worse side effects of treatment scores. Furthermore, it was noted that patients who had undergone autologous stem cell transplants had better HRQoL in all domains compared to other modalities of therapy, though this did not reach significance. HRQoL in MM treated in Iraqi Kurdistan does not differ much from its Western counterpart, and several predictors of worse QoL were identified in this cohort of patients.
Published Version
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