A recent study presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting has uncovered significant health disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes, linked to social determinants of health. The research, conducted by Catherine Forbes, PharmD, and colleagues at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, reveals that patients from more socioeconomically deprived areas face worse prognoses in their battle against this blood cancer.
The study utilized the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a comprehensive measure encompassing factors such as employment, education, and housing conditions, to assess socioeconomic status. Patients with higher ADI scores, indicating greater deprivation, experienced poorer outcomes compared to those with lower scores and better socioeconomic status.
Income levels, based on U.S. census data, also played a crucial role in patient outcomes. The research demonstrated that individuals with lower incomes had worse progression-free and overall survival rates than their higher-income counterparts.
These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the disparities in multiple myeloma care. Dr. Forbes emphasized the importance of identifying factors contributing to these poorer outcomes and developing strategies to help disadvantaged patients achieve results comparable to those in more favorable socioeconomic positions.
The study’s results serve as a call to action for clinicians to recognize and address the social determinants of health in their approach to multiple myeloma treatment. By acknowledging these disparities, healthcare providers can work towards implementing more equitable care strategies and potentially improving outcomes for all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
As the medical community continues to grapple with health inequities, this research underscores the critical intersection between social factors and cancer outcomes, paving the way for more inclusive and effective treatment approaches in multiple myeloma care.
See: “How Social Determinants of Health Are Linked to Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma” (December 29, 2024)
