The global burden of multiple myeloma increased significantly from 1990 to 2021, with higher rates in high-income regions, and Mendelian randomization demonstrates a positive causal association between elevated BMI and increased MM risk.
In 2021, the global incidence of multiple myeloma was 148,755 cases, with 116,359 deaths and 2,595,595 DALYs.
From 1990 to 2021, global multiple myeloma incidence, mortality, and DALYs showed a statistically significant upward trend over 30 years.
High-income countries showed slowing trends in MM burden while low- and middle-income regions faced rising burdens.
The MM burden associated with high BMI was geographically concentrated in high-income regions.
Mendelian randomization analysis demonstrated a positive causal association between elevated BMI and increased multiple myeloma risk.
Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) models projected continued increases in MM disease burden up to 2035.
Multiple myeloma is characterized as the second-most frequently occurring hematologic malignancy globally.
This research suggests that multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, has become an increasingly significant global health problem over the past three decades. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study — a comprehensive worldwide health database — the researchers found that in 2021 alone, nearly 149,000 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma, over 116,000 people died from it, and it caused approximately 2.6 million years of healthy life lost worldwide. The overall rates of new cases, deaths, and disability have been slowly but steadily rising since 1990, though the pace of this increase varies greatly by region. The study found that wealthier, high-income countries like those in North America and Australasia bear a disproportionately high burden of multiple myeloma, partly because obesity (high BMI) is more common in these regions and appears to be a contributing cause of the disease. The researchers used a genetic analysis technique called Mendelian randomization — which helps establish cause-and-effect relationships rather than just associations — to confirm that higher body weight causally increases the risk of developing multiple myeloma. Meanwhile, lower-income regions in South and Southeast Asia are seeing rising burdens, likely due to limited healthcare access and underdiagnosis rather than differences in risk factors. Looking ahead, projections using statistical modeling suggest that the global burden of multiple myeloma will continue to grow through 2035. This research suggests that addressing obesity could be an important strategy for reducing multiple myeloma cases in high-income countries, while improving early diagnosis and healthcare access in lower-income regions is critical for managing the growing disease burden worldwide. The findings are intended to help guide health policy decisions and resource allocation on a global scale.
Qu R, Zhang X, Zou J, Ning J, Zhao Y, Liang Y, et al.. (2026). Global burden of multiple myeloma(1990-2021) and projections up to 2035: a methodical analysis leveraging the global burden of disease 2021 study and Mendelian randomization.. Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43046-026-00377-4