Lab major / Associate teacher Douala General Hospital / Catholic University of Central Africa DOUALA, Cameroon
Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer. It is linked to a variety of symptoms, so mastery would allow for early diagnosis and management, particularly in less developed regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological symptoms, outcomes, and management characteristics of MM in sub-Saharan African patients.
Methods: . Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Excerpta Medica Databases) were searched in a systematic database and gray literature search and the design of the study has followed PRISMA standard guidelines.
Results: This study included 32 articles in total, corresponding to 21172 cases. The overall prevalence of multiple myeloma in sub-Saharan African patients was 10.34% (95% CI: 6.35–15.15). Patients with blood diseases were the most affected, with a prevalence of 18.49% (95% CI: 8.60–31.02). The main radiological symptoms of MM in sub-Saharan Africa were bone lesions (lytic bone lesions, osteolytic lesions, and bone deficiency, essentially) and fractures (long bone fractures, vertebral compression fractures, and vertebral collapse, essentially). The main clinical symptoms at diagnosis of MM in sub-Saharan Africa were musculoskeletal (bone pain and lumbar pain, essentially), haematological (clinical anemia), and constitutional (asthenia). The majority of patients with MM in sub-Saharan Africa were in Stage III. The prevalence of death was 38% (95% CI: 27.31–49.28), with a 5-year survival rate of 16.54% (95% CI: 11.33–22.47) in patients with MM in sub-Saharan Africa. Palliative care was the most commonly used treatment (analgesic), followed by chemotherapy (Alexanian essentially) and combination chemotherapy (Vincristine /Carmustine/ Adriamycin /Prednisone essentially).
Conclusions: This study has a low risk of bias (100% of studies). The findings suggest that multiple myeloma is a serious health condition in sub-Saharan African patients, and the need to educate the community and clinicians on the characteristics of the disease, for early and optimal management.
