A systematic review of health‐related quality of life in longitudinal studies of myeloma patients

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>Multiple myeloma (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MM</jats:styled-content>) patients report high symptom burden and reduced health‐related quality of life (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL) compared to patients with other haematological malignancies. The aim of this review was to analyse published longitudinal studies including <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MM</jats:styled-content> patients according to a change in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL scores, which is perceived as beneficial to the patient according to two published guidelines.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A literature search was performed May 2016. Publications with longitudinal follow‐up using the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EORTC QLQ</jats:styled-content>‐C30 instrument for <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL measurement of physical functioning, global quality of life, fatigue and/or pain were included. An analysis of mean change from baseline was carried out according to minimal important difference (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MID</jats:styled-content>).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Large and medium <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL improvements were reported during first‐line treatments. No clinically beneficial change or deteriorations in scores of global QoL or fatigue were reported during relapse treatment. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL data during maintenance therapy are sparse and inconclusive.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Guidelines for interpreting changes in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL including definitions of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MID</jats:styled-content> have been developed; however, consensus is missing. Improvements in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL are far more likely to occur during first‐line compared to relapsed treatment regimens. The background of these findings should be in focus in future studies, and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HRQ</jats:styled-content>oL measurements should be integrated in maintenance studies.</jats:p></jats:sec>