The diagnosed incident cases of multiple myeloma (MM) in the eight major markets (*8MM) are projected to increase from 80,305 in 2022 to 95,349 in 2032, equating to an annual growth rate (AGR) of 1.87%, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Multiple myeloma is a hematologic cancer that forms in a type of white blood cells called plasma cells. It causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, impairing their ability to fight infections. Rather than producing helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins called monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-protein).

In the early stages, MM may not cause any symptoms, but eventually leads to a wide range of problems, including a persistent bone pain, usually in the back, ribs, or hips, tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, repeated infections, easy bruising and unusual bleeding, fragile bones, thirst, frequent urination, and kidney problems.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Multiple Myeloma – Epidemiology Analysis and Forecast to 2032,” reveals that in 2032, the US is predicted to have the highest number of diagnosed incident cases of multiple myeloma in the 8MM at 35,307, whereas Spain, with nearly 3,517 cases, will have the lowest number.

Bharti Prabhakar, MPH, Associate Project Manager at GlobalData, comments: “Adults ages ≥60 years accounted for more than 75% of the diagnosed incident cases of MM in the 8MM. There is a predominance of sex-specific diagnosed incident cases favoring men. As the disease increases in risk with age, the higher population of women in the older age groups evened out some of the increased risk in men, resulting in only a small majority of diagnosed incident cases in men.”

The etiology of MM is poorly understood, but researchers have identified certain non-modifiable factors, such as age, sex, and race, which increase the risk of developing MM.

Prabhakar concludes: “Given that MM primarily affects older individuals, it shares comorbidities with common conditions prevalent in the elderly population, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiac issues, and pulmonary diseases. Since MM is a disease with significantly different management in the younger and older populations, GlobalData epidemiologists provide a detailed analysis of MM diagnosed incident cases to capture clinically relevant disease characteristics.”

*8MM: The US, 5EU (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK), Japan, and Urban China.