Prevalence and Survival Impact of Self-Reported Symptom and Psychological Distress Among Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Background: Advances in the management of multiple myeloma (MM) have extended survival and reduced painful skeletal-related events. As MM is evolving toward a chronic disease, we sought to determine the prevalence of self-reported symptom burden and psychological distress, and to determine the association of distress with survival.

Methods: The CPASS-7 patient-reported outcome instrument was administered to a convenience sample of MM patients at 7 outpatient cancer centers.

Results: A total of 239 patients completed the CPASS-7 between September 2015 and October 2016%; 57% of respondents were male, and median age was 67 years. Forty-eight percent were concerned that they could not do the things they wanted to do, with 33% reporting decreased performance status. Financial toxicity concerns were self-reported by 44%, with family burdens noted in 24%. Although depression was reported by only 15%, 41% noted lack of pleasure. Pain was a concern in 36%. With a median follow-up of 316 days since CPASS-7 completion, 13% of patients had died. A high total distress score was noted in 57 (24%) and trended toward an association with a decreased survival rate compared to the 182 patients (76%) with a low total distress score (P = .066). The 6-month survival rates for patients with high and low distress scores were 86% and 96%, respectively, and 12-month survival rates were 76% and 87%, respectively.

Conclusion: Despite dramatic improvements in survival among patients with MM, symptom, financial, and psychosocial concerns continue to be major patient concerns. As MM becomes a chronic disease, additional attention to addressing these issues is required.