Racial disparities in treatment use for multiple myeloma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent treatment advances have greatly improved the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma. However, some of these newer, more effective treatments are intensive and expensive and their use remains low, particularly among black patients.

Methods

In the current study, the authors reviewed the use patterns of stem cell transplantation and bortezomib using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database.

Results

After controlling for overall health and potential access barriers, black patients were found to be 37% (P<.0001) less likely to undergo stem cell transplantation, and 21% (P<.0001) less likely to be treated with bortezomib. Moreover, the authors found that the underuse of these treatments was associated with a 12%

SUBMITTER: Fiala MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5400674 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature