Multiple myeloma in the geriatric patient

Paul Froom*, Miriam Quitt, Esther Aghai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Consecutive patients with multiple myeloma were studied. The clinical characteristics and survival of 17 patients aged 75 years or more were compared to 42 patients younger than 75 years of age. Of the patients older than 75 years, 14/17 (82%) died in less than 12 months compared to only 11/42 (26%) of those under 75 years old (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that both age and hemoglobin were significant predictors of survival (P < 0.012 and P < 0.002, respectively) explaining 34.6% of the variance (r = 0.588, P < 0.000), whereas the extent of bone lesions, the presence of more than 50% plasma cells in the bone marrow, the amount of serum monoclonal protein, functional class, and the Salmon and Durie staging system did not significantly add to the analysis. We conclude that the factors that best predict prognosis are hemoglobin levels, and age at pressentation. Different approaches including more appropriate chemotherapeutic regimes and comprehensive geriatric assessment with improved supportive treatment need to be developed for the geriatric patient with multiple myeloma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)965-967
Number of pages3
JournalCancer
Volume66
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 1990
Externally publishedYes

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