Falls in older adults with multiple myeloma

Eur J Haematol. 2018 Mar;100(3):273-278. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13009. Epub 2018 Jan 8.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence of falls, factors associated with falls and the relationship between falls and survival in older adults with multiple myeloma.

Methods: In an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS)-linked database, we examined 405 older adults with multiple myeloma (MM) and 513 matched non-cancer controls. The primary outcome was self-reported within the past 12 months. Age, race, gender, symptoms, and comorbidities were self-reported in the MHOS. Survival was calculated from SEER data.

Results: Of the patients with MM, 171 were within 1 year of diagnosis (cohort 1) and 234 were ≥1 year postdiagnosis (cohort 2). Patients in cohorts 1 and 2 were more likely to have fallen than controls (26% and 33% vs 23%, P = .012). On multivariate analysis, among patients with myeloma (combined cohorts 1 and 2), factors associated with falls included self-report of fatigue (aOR 2.52 [95% CI 1.34-4.93]), depression (aOR 1.90 [95% CI 1.14-3.18]), or poorer general health (aOR 1.86 [95% CI 1.05-3.36]). Falls were not associated with survival.

Conclusions: Older adults with MM have a greater prevalence of falls than matched controls. Self-reported fatigue, depression, and poorer general health are associated with greater odds of falls.

Keywords: cancer; elderly; falls; geriatric assessment; multiple myeloma.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / mortality
  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / physiopathology*
  • Fatigue / diagnosis
  • Fatigue / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / diagnosis
  • Multiple Myeloma / mortality
  • Multiple Myeloma / physiopathology*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • SEER Program
  • Self Report
  • Survival Analysis