Health-related quality of life in multiple myeloma in Kurdistan Iraq

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple myeloma (MM) gained increasing importance to ensure that the improved survival is associated with improved life quality. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the HRQoL in a cohort of myeloma patients from Kurdistan region in Iraq. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional, multi-center study enrolled 138 patients with symptomatic MM patients. The patients' records were retrieved and they were also clinically assessed and appropriately investigated at the time of enrolment. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Multiple Myeloma module (EROTC QLQ-MY20. RESULTS: The 138 patients included had a mean age of 60.4 years and included 83 males and 55 females. Significant predictors of worse HRQoL disease symptoms and side effects of treatment domains included increasing age, female sex, and increase number of treatment courses. Other predictors associated with worse disease symptom domain include presence of bone lesions and nonsecretory myeloma versus light chain myeloma. Basic parameters including the concentration of monoclonal band, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, calcium, and albumin were not significant associated with scores in any of the domain while serum LDH was associated with worse side effects of treatment scores. Furthermore, it was noted that patients who had underwent autologous stem cell transplants had better HRQoL in all domains compared to other modalities of therapy, though this did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL in MM treated in Iraqi Kurdistan is not much different from their Western counterparts and several predictors of worse QoL were identified in this cohort of patients.