Printable: COVID-19 FAQ #5 What are the risk factors that could lead myeloma patients to develop serious consequences from the COVID-19 infection?

COVID-19 FAQ #5 What are the risk factors that could lead myeloma patients to develop serious consequences from the COVID-19 infection? (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/covid-19-faq-5-are-risk-factors-could-lead-myeloma-patients-develop-serious-consequences)

The fifth episode of his ten episode COVID-19 FAQ series, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie discusses which factors increase a myeloma patient's risk for developing serious consequences from the COVID-19 Infection.

BOTTOM LINE:
While myeloma patients do need to be cautious, patients who are having a very good partial response or a complete remission are not at the highest risk. Patients with the other health related issues listed are at the highest risk.

Videos in the COVID-19 Series

Transcript:

This “Ask Dr. Durie” is one of the frequently asked questions with regard to the COVID-19 infection. This is FAQ number 5, and this is a very important question that relates to, “what are the risk factors for developing more serious consequences if an individual becomes infected with the COVID-19 virus?”

And the first thing to say is that not all myeloma patients are necessarily at the highest risk. But under some circumstances, there is a definite important high risk for patients with myeloma.

These situations are, number one, at the time of initial diagnosis and early induction therapy, when there is a risk of medical complications, particularly, infection. Following on with that, autologous stem cell transplant is a definite risk factor right now, and is something that really needs to be avoided, because there is a two to three week period where there is engraftment of the stem cells and when the blood counts are low, and this is a particularly dangerous time when COVID-19 infection could cause a variety of medical issues. The third situation is at a point of relapse, where new therapy is required. And again, this is an unstable period where COVID-19 infection could cause particular problems. And so, under those circumstances, there is a need for particular caution to avoid exposure.

Other risk factors to be aware of are related to age, for any individual over the age of seventy, there is an increased risk for more serious consequences. For some reason, men are at more serious risk than women of having lung issues and other medical complications.

Other factors are things that we call comorbidities or other diseases which an individual might have. The ones which have caused the most trouble in cases from Asia, and more recently in Europe and in the U.S., are individuals who have diabetes, individuals who are overweight or are frankly, obese, individuals who have chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, or ongoing cardiovascular disease, particularly, high blood pressure. Patients with high blood pressure seem to be at a particular risk for complications.

Other things to be considered for patients with myeloma is that if a patient is elderly and more frail with reduced physical performance status, this puts them at risk for having more serious issues.

The BOTTOM LINE is that obviously all myeloma patients do need to be particularly cautious. However, a patient who is in remission, perhaps a VGPR or a complete remission and is doing well is not necessarily at the highest risk. And, some of these other comorbidities and other factors are things that are to be the most concerned about. And, no matter what, the top priority for all myeloma patients is to try as hard as possible to avoid exposure.

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Dr. Brian GM Durie (https://www.myeloma.org/Brian-Durie-md)

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Ask Dr. Durie (https://www.myeloma.org/taxonomy/term/19)

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Please note that Ask Dr. Durie has been discontinued, and it was designed to address myeloma questions of the broadest possible audience interest. If you have a question of a personal nature, please contact our InfoLine Coordinators at 800.452.2873 or [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) (Please do not send email attachments or lab reports.).

Image of Dr. Brian G.M. Durie Dr. Brian G.M. Durie (1942-2025) was the co-founder of the IMF. He was a Professor of Medicine, Hematologist/Oncologist, and Honoree MD at the University of Brussels.