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. 2022 Jul;30(7):5859-5869.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-06979-7. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Patient perspectives on symptoms, health-related quality of life, and treatment experience associated with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Nitya Nathwani  1 , Jill Bell  2 , Dasha Cherepanov  2 , France Ginchereau Sowell  3 , Rachel Shah  3 , Kelly McCarrier  3 , Parameswaran Hari  4
Affiliations

Patient perspectives on symptoms, health-related quality of life, and treatment experience associated with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Nitya Nathwani et al. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to better understand the patient perspective and treatment experience of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Methods: This qualitative study enrolled adult RRMM patients from 6 US clinics who had ≥ 3 months of life expectancy, ≤ 6 prior lines of therapy, and ≥ 1 treatment regimen with a proteasome inhibitor and immunomodulator, or a CD38 monoclonal antibody or an alkylating agent, and a steroid. In-person semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to capture concepts that were relevant and important to patients. Topics included RRMM symptoms and impacts and the mode of administration, frequency, duration, convenience, side effects, and overall experience with RRMM treatment.

Results: A total of 22 patients completed interviews. At enrollment, 59.1% of participants were using regimens containing dexamethasone, 36.4% daratumumab, 27.3% carfilzomib, and 18.2% lenalidomide. More participants had experience using intravenous or injectable therapy alone (40.9%) than oral therapy alone (18.2%). Back pain and fatigue were the most frequently reported symptoms (40.9% each); 27.3% reported no symptoms. Most participants reported physical function limitations (86.4%), emotional impacts (77.3%), MM-related activity limitations (72.7%), and sleep disturbances (63.6%). Most participants perceived treatment effectiveness based on physician-explained clinical signs (68.2%) and symptom relief (40.9%). Participants experienced gastrointestinal adverse events (59.1%), fatigue (59.1%), sleep disturbances (31.8%), and allergic reactions (31.8%) with treatment. Key elements of treatment burden included the duration of a typical treatment day (68.2%), treatment interfering with daily activities (54.5%), and infusion duration (50.0%).

Conclusions: These results provide treatment experience-related data to further understand RRMM treatment burden and better inform treatment decision-making.

Keywords: Health-related quality of life; Patient experience; Patient-reported outcomes; Relapsed refractory multiple myeloma; Treatment burden; Treatment experience.

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Conflict of interest statement

NN has no conflicts of interest to disclose. JB and DC were employees of Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, MA, USA, at the time this research was conducted. PH has received honoraria for consulting from Takeda, BMS, Amgen, Karyopharm, Janssen, and Sanofi. FGS, RS, and KM were employees of Pharmerit – an OPEN Health Company, at the time the research was conducted.

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