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.