Abstract
Introduction: Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm that predominately impacts black patients. It is well documented that racial disparities exist among blacks vs whites. This disparity adversely impacts survival and rates of autologous stem cell transplant among black patients, hypothesized to be due to unequal access to care. We seek to evaluate racial survival disparities among patients with multiple myeloma who underwent autologous stem cell transplant from 2011-2021 at one of the largest bone marrow transplant centers in Louisiana.
Methods: Retrospective study from a large bone marrow transplant center in Louisiana. De-identified patient records assessed for patient demographics, including self-reported race, age, sex, and diagnosis characteristics including diagnosis of multiple myeloma, PET staging, R-ISS staging, date of transplant and death. Data was analyzed using Chi-Squared analysis. Statistical significance was measured as p<0.05.
Results Of 238 patients with multiple myeloma who underwent autologous stem cell transplants from 2011-2021, 101 patients were female, and 137 patients were male. 107 patients were self-identified as black, 124 self-identified as white, 7 patients as other. Both racial groups (black and white) had equal number of patients in R-ISS stage I-III. Analysis of one-year survival post-autologous stem cell transplant among black vs white patients was not statistically significant. There was no trend of increased mortality among either racial groups. There was no evidence of increased progression among racial groups. There was also no correlation between sex and survival.
Conclusion Louisiana encompasses a greater proportion of black population (33%) as compared to the national average (13%). Using retrospective data from one of the largest bone marrow transplant centers and referral centers, there was no evidence of a one year survival disparity among race and progression free survival among patients with multiple myeloma who received autologous stem cell transplant from 2011-2021. This may be due to equal access to care, referral-based process, and navigation assistance.
Disclosures
No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Author notes
Asterisk with author names denotes non-ASH members.
