Elevated Risks for Depression and Anxiety Following Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) may be particularly vulnerable to depression and anxiety following diagnosis due to high disease burden, treatment-related side effects, and the incurable nature of the disease. METHODS: In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we used Danish population-based registries to investigate the risk of depression and anxiety in patients with MM (symptomatic MM and smoldering MM) compared with age- and sex-matched individuals from the general population. RESULTS: A total of 3861 patients with MM and 19 305 matched comparators were included (median age 73 years; 59% male). During follow-up, depression and/or anxiety occurred in 315 MM patients (8.2%) and 660 comparators (3.4%). MM was associated with a substantially increased risk of depression and/or anxiety (adjusted HR 2.56, 95% CI 2.23-2.94). The association was strongest among patients with symptomatic MM (adjusted HR 2.63, 95% CI 2.21-3.12) but remained elevated among patients with smoldering MM (adjusted HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.87). The association was strongest during the first year following diagnosis and attenuated over time. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate an elevated risk of depression and/or anxiety among patients with both symptomatic and smoldering MM and highlight the need for increased awareness of psychological morbidity, particularly during the first year after diagnosis.