Alisha Kimble is a senior outcomes researcher at Ontada.

Alisha Kimble

Patients in rural or underserved areas may have worse outcomes, highlighting the need for early support to address care access barriers.

Social and Economic Barriers May Affect Outcomes in Blood Cancers

Patients with the rare blood cancer, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), who are living in rural or socioeconomically deprived areas may experience worse outcomes, according to Alisha Kimble, senior outcomes researcher at Ontada.

In her study, a multivariate analysis showed that the Area Deprivation Index — which accounts for a patient’s zip code — was linked to differences in outcomes. Patients in more deprived areas had poorer results compared to those in less deprived areas.

Kimble emphasized that early recognition of social challenges, like transportation barriers or lack of nearby care, can help providers offer more targeted support beyond clinical care. Identifying these barriers upfront may help ensure patients receive timely follow-up, maintain continuity of care and get the treatment they need to improve quality of life.

Could you explain how certain social and economic factors affected outcomes in your study, and what can patients do if they're concerned about these barriers?

Yes, so we did a multivariate analysis, which assesses the association between patient characteristics and outcomes. One of the factors we identified was the Area Deprivation Index. This was based on a patient’s zip code and where they lived, and we found that patients in more deprived or rural areas had worse outcomes compared to those living in less deprived areas.

I think this really comes down to spreading knowledge and awareness — especially for patients living in rural areas. If providers are able to identify that early, maybe even based on what the patient shares about where they live, they can respond accordingly. These patients may already be facing food deserts, transportation issues, or trouble accessing care. If providers are aware of those challenges at the initial appointments, they may be able to offer more targeted support — even beyond clinical care — to help make sure patients return for follow-up and get the care they need.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness

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Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia is often slow growing, with high survival but lower quality of life over time, explained researcher Alisha Kimble.

What Patients Should Know About Living With WM and the Road Ahead 

Patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) should understand that this disease is typically slow growing, meaning many patients may not have symptoms for years before needing treatment, explained Alisha Kimble, senior outcomes researcher at Ontada.

This makes WM difficult to detect early, Kimble noted, which is why continued research is crucial — not only to improve detection but also to gather enough data for meaningful analysis.

Kimble also highlighted that survival rates for WM are relatively high. Her study identified a five-year survival rate of about 78%, which is consistent with established estimates from other sources. However, she emphasized that although survival is favorable, many patients experience lower quality of life over time due to chronic disease-related issues.

What do patients with WM need to know about the natural course of this disease?

Typically, this disease is indolent in nature, meaning that patients are often asymptomatic. They may not experience symptoms for the first few years before actually receiving treatment. This makes it difficult to identify, which is why research in this area is so important — not only because it’s hard to detect, but also because identifying enough patients to provide statistical power for analysis is challenging. That’s what brings a lot of value to this research.

Some other key things for patients to know: with this disease, survival rates are relatively high. We identified a five-year survival rate of about 78%, which aligns with SEER estimates from the American Cancer Society, and WHO estimates around 76%, making it higher than for some other rare diseases. However, these patients typically experience a lower quality of life due to chronic conditions over time, which can offset that survival advantage.

Another important point for patients is the use of risk prognostic tools. For Waldenstrom, there’s the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System, as well as a modified version. Both are risk calculators that use lab values to assess disease severity. If patients undergo this risk assessment early in their care, it can help physicians better predict outcomes and guide treatment planning.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Alisha Kimble

Social and Economic Barriers May Affect Outcomes in Blood Cancers

What Patients Should Know About Living With WM and the Road Ahead

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