Quality of life in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma: pain, depression and life satisfaction with gender and age differences

Introduction
Multiple myeloma is a clonal disease characterised by the proliferation of neoplastic plasmocytes, infiltrating the marrow or, less frequently, other tissues and producing monoclonal immunoglobulin or fragments thereof and a number of cytokines responsible for bone damage. Aim of the research: The aim of the study was to analyse the mental state of multiple myeloma patients with a view to diagnosis for depression and to assess quality of life using appropriate survey tools.

Material and methods
Twenty-seven patients with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma participated in the study after giving informed, voluntary consent to participate in the study. They were outpatient haematology patients, aged between 48 and 79 years.

Results
The study group consisted of 12 women and 15 men. As part of the study, patients were given a set of questionnaires to complete, such as the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS) by Ed Diener, Robert A. Emmons, Randy J. Larsen, and Sharon Griffin. Depressive disorders are common in multiple myeloma patients. The co-occurrence of depressive-anxiety disorders in multiple myeloma reduces quality of life in haematology patients. A higher prevalence of major depression was found in the female group and a higher level of life satisfaction in the male group. Patients over 65 years of age with myeloma rated their overall health status better than younger patients.

Conclusions
The impact of pain, depression and life satisfaction in myeloma patients needs further and broader research.