Disease-specific complaints among multiple myeloma patients treated with chemotherapy, autotransplantation and supportive therapy in Poland: a cross-sectional study

Due to its course, multiple myeloma may negatively affect the functioning of patients. Different treatment methods are also associated with patients' varying perception of their health condition. The purpose of this study is to determine the disease-specific complaints among multiple myeloma patients during selected treatment methods-chemotherapy, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and supportive therapy. The study group included 246 patients (98 in the chemotherapy group, of which 87 in the autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation group and 61 in the supportive therapy group). The study was conducted between August 2020 and December 2021 with the EORTC QLQ-MY20 questionnaire. According to the study results, patients treated with chemotherapy had the highest degree of disease symptom severity and side effects of treatment as well as the lowest assessment of their perspectives for the future. Patients who received supportive treatment had the lowest degree of disease symptom severity and side effects of treatment, and also assessed their body image and future perspectives the highest. Women assessed their future perspectives significantly lower than men. The severity of disease symptoms experienced by patients increases with age.