A new study by UC Davis Health has uncovered significant racial and social disparities in access to a common bone marrow transplant treatment for multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. The research, published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia, found that Black patients were less likely to receive autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT) despite having a higher risk of developing the disease.
The study analyzed data from three California health care organizations, examining autoHCT usage in patients diagnosed with myeloma between 1991 and 2016. Of the 29,109 patients studied, only 18.9% received autoHCT. Black patients, who have myeloma rates almost twice that of white patients, received the treatment at a lower rate of 15.8% compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
Socioeconomic factors also played a role, with patients from higher socioeconomic neighborhoods more likely to receive the treatment. Insurance type impacted access as well, with privately insured patients receiving autoHCT at higher rates than those on Medicare, Medicaid, or without insurance.
Dr. Naseem Esteghamat, lead author and UC Davis assistant professor, emphasized the importance of addressing these disparities: “It’s important that we remain aware that these disparities exist in our state and our health care system since they do affect clinical outcomes for patients.”
The researchers suggested various factors contributing to the disparities, including financial burdens, lack of caregiver support, transportation issues, and physician bias. They called for further research into how different insurance plans affect patient evaluation and referrals for autoHCT.
The study underscores the need to mitigate social and economic barriers to ensure more equitable access to effective cancer treatments and improve patient outcomes.
See “Study points to racial and social barriers that block treatment for multiple myeloma” (April 23, 2024)
