A systematic analysis of the global burden of multiple myeloma from 1990 to 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, leading to organ dysfunction. Globally, the incidence of MM has increased substantially in recent decades, necessitating an updated understanding of its global burden and epidemiological trends. This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease database to analyze the incidence of MM, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were used to adjust for variations in age distribution and population size. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were used to evaluate temporal trends. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was employed to assess the relationship between EAPC values and sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. From 1990 to 2021, the global incident cases increased dramatically from 55.71 × 103 to 148.75 × 103, with the age-standardized incidence rate rising from 1.47 to 1.74/100,000 population. Deaths also increased significantly from 47.57 × 103 to 116.36 × 103. High-SDI regions consistently maintained the highest disease burden, while low- to middle-SDI regions demonstrated the most rapid increase in MM incidence. The EAPC of ASRs was negatively correlated with SDI in 2021. The global burden of MM substantially increased from 1990 to 2021, with significant regional and sociodemographic disparities. While high-SDI regions benefited from advances in diagnosis and treatment, low-SDI regions faced mounting challenges that require targeted interventions and coordinated international actions to effectively reduce the global MM burden.