A new study from Yale School of Medicine found that older Black patients with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma are less likely to get treatment and have lower survival rates compared to White patients. The differences in treatment and outcomes between Black and White patients have gotten worse in recent years, even though new therapies have helped patients overall.
The researchers looked at Medicare records of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2007 and 2017. They discovered that about 60% of Black patients received treatment in the first year after being diagnosed, while nearly 65% of White patients did.
The gap in treatment between Black and White patients increased from about 3% in 2007-2009 to almost 7% in 2014-2017. Black patients were also less likely to get stem cell transplants, a type of treatment for multiple myeloma, and had a lower chance of surviving for 5 years after diagnosis.
These findings show that racial disparities in multiple myeloma care continue to be a problem, even with the development of new treatments. The authors point out that Black patients have a higher chance of getting multiple myeloma and dying from it compared to other cancers.
“Our study suggests that more work needs to be done to improve access to and use of treatments among Black patients,” said Rong Wang, Ph.D., the lead researcher. “Addressing these differences is important to make sure all patients with multiple myeloma have fair outcomes.”
See “New Study Shows Racial Disparities in Treatment and Survival Among Seniors with Multiple Myeloma” by Pastricia Weiser on the Managed Healthcare Executive website (February 7, 2024)
