Current Oncology
Clinical and Laboratory Factors Associated with Serious Infections in Multiple Myeloma: A Real-World Study
By Aslı Odabaşı Giden, Onur Şahin and Düzgün Özatlı.
Abstract
Background
Serious infections remain a major cause of morbidity and treatment disruption in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Identifying readily available clinical factors associated with infectious complications may facilitate risk-adapted supportive care. This study evaluated clinical and laboratory factors associated with serious infection in patients with MM, including the potential association of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with subsequent serious infectious complications.
Methods
This retrospective multicenter cohort study included 104 patients with MM. Baseline demographic, disease-related, treatment-related, and laboratory characteristics were evaluated. Serious infection was defined as an infectious episode requiring hospitalization. Infectious events were recorded throughout follow-up, including those occurring during second-line and subsequent therapies. Associations with serious infection were assessed using univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. The primary multivariable model included age, International Staging System (ISS) stage, dialysis requirement at diagnosis, treatment response, and baseline NLR.