Non-Hispanic Black Americans Face Disproportionately High Rates of Multiple Myeloma Incidence and Mortality

Despite significant advancements in cancer care and treatment, multiple myeloma (MM) continues to place a heavy burden on the US health care system, with its incidence rising over the past 2 decades. According to a study published in Scientific Reports, “Non-Hispanic Black Americans, in particular, face disproportionately high rates of MM incidence and mortality, underscoring the imperative for equity-centered MM screening and treatments.”

Researchers utilized MM incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and mortality data from the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to analyze trends from 1999 to 2020. The study focused on various demographic variables, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, geographic region, and rurality, to identify disparities in MM incidence and mortality. The results reveal a complex landscape, with an overall increase in MM incidence and a decrease in mortality, alongside significant disparities across different demographic groups.

The incidence of MM in the US steadily increased during the study period. This rise was observed across all racial and ethnic groups, but the degree of increase varied significantly. Non-Hispanic Black Individuals exhibited the highest MM incidence rates throughout the study period. The incidence rate increased from 12.02 per 100,000 in 1999 to 14.20 per 100,000 in 2020.

Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives and Asian/Pacific Islanders demonstrated the lowest MM incidence rates in the study. For non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives, the incidence increased slightly from 5.59 per 100,000 to 5.76 per 100,000 from 1999 to 2020, respectively. Similarly, for Asian/Pacific Islanders, the incidence rose from 3.56 per 100,000 to 3.92 per 100,000 from 1999 to 2020, respectively.

While MM mortality rates in the US steadily decreased over the study period, researchers found a consistent decline in MM mortality across most demographic groups. However, non-Hispanic Black individuals continue to experience higher mortality rates than the other groups.

The study identified significant disparities in MM incidence and mortality based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, US census region, and rurality. Non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest MM incidence and mortality rates, while Asian/Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives had the lowest rates.

Researchers observed that MM incidence and mortality rates varied by gender and age, with older individuals and males generally experiencing higher rates. Disparities were also observed based on geographic region and rurality, with certain regions and rural areas exhibiting higher MM incidence and mortality rates.

“Understanding SIRE [self-identified race/ethnicity] disparities in MM is crucial for guiding public health efforts aiming to improve access to MM detection, treatment, prognosis, survival, and quality of life for patients with MM,” the researchers wrote.

By providing culturally competent care, facilitating early detection, and supporting equitable access to treatment, physicians and nurses can help the burden of this disease across diverse populations.

Source: Scientific Reports