title: Management of multiple myeloma in Asia: resource-stratified guidelines.
abstract: Treatment of multiple myeloma has undergone substantial developments in the past 10 years. The introduction of novel drugs has changed the treatment of the disease and substantially improved survival outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines based on evidence have been developed to provide recommendations on standard treatment approaches. However, the guidelines do not take into account resource limitations encountered by developing countries. The huge disparities in economy, health-care infrastructure, and access to novel drugs in Asian countries hinder the delivery of optimum care to every patient with multiple myeloma in Asia. In this Review we outline the guidelines that correspond with different levels of health-care resources and expertise, with the aim to unify diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines and help with the design of future studies in Asia.
authors.affiliation: Raffles Cancer Center, Raffles Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: tan_daryl@rafflesmedical.com.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Wee Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chng
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Weerasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nawarawong
authors.forename: Shang-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chor Sang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Brian G M
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Durie
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome