Ajai Chari, MD, Talks Diversity in Multiple Myeloma Research

ABSTRACT

[...]as new research results emerge, clinicians are learning to manage the real-world considerations associated with these therapies, from effects on the immune system to concerns surrounding therapy sequencing. For the newly diagnosed patients, you have patients who are bedridden or bed-bound, who within a few months are back to their previous quality of life because the therapeutics are so effective and the symptoms of myeloma can be so rapidly reversed. Can you discuss your recent paper on the effects of COVID-19 on patients with multiple myeloma? I was the lead author [analyzing] a global data set;it was a very collaborative effort looking at COVID-19 outcomes in late 2020.1 We found that the risk factors for worse outcomes in myeloma were older age, renal failure, higher-risk myeloma, and uncontrolled myeloma.