The burden and trends of multiple myeloma worldwide from 1990 to 2019

Abstract

Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common malignant disease of the bone marrow. The burden and trends of MM were systematically analyzed globally, which would inform health strategies. Methods Data of the MM burden was explored from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Trends in the age-standardized rate (ASR) of the MM burden were calculated using estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Results Globally, the incident cases of MM increased 136.10% since 1990, and reached 1556.88×102 in 2019. The overall incident ASR (/100,000 population) increased from 1.73 in 1990 to 1.92 in 2019, by an annual average 0.25% increase over the past thirty years (EAPC = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15 to 0.35). Increasing incident trends also occurred in most regions and countries, particularly Jamaica and Belarus, in which the respective EAPCs were 4.15 (95%CI: 3.41 to 4.90) and 3.25 (95%CI: 2.99 to 3.51). In 2019, MM caused 1134.74×102 deaths, and 24972.05×102 disability adjusted-life years (DALYs) globally. Trends in the overall ASR of DALYs minorly declined from 1990 to 2019 (EAPC = -0.16, 95%CI: -0.23 to -0.09), whereas that of death was relatively stable. Increasing trends in ASR of death and DALYs were observed in most regions and countries, except in high sociodemographic index (SDI) settings. Conclusions The MM burden was heterogeneous across regions and countries and its changing trends were associated with sociodemographic factors. Cost-effective measures will still be needed to reduce the MM burden.

Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care of multiple myeloma, 1990–2019

“…Besides, the availability of treatments and standard of care usually lag in lower resource settings, further contributing to the disparity. However, the disease burden of MM in middle to low SDI regions was outpaced the high SDI areas due to ageing, improving diagnostic capability, and growing concern on metabolic risk factors [ 11 , 47 ]. Per our estimates, the global burden of MM will continue to rise, highlighting the significant challenge on MM quality of care.…”