High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and multiple myeloma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To systematically investigate all relevant evidence on the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: We searched PubMed and Cochrane library databases (up to 20 September 2022) for studies with evidence on HDL-C in patients with MM. A qualitative synthesis of published prospective and retrospective studies for the role of HDL-C and other lipid profile parameters in MM was performed. Additionally, a meta-analysis on HDL-C mean differences (MD) between MM cases and controls was performed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies (3 prospective, 11 retrospective) including 895 MM patients were eligible for this systematic review. Ten studies compared HDL-C levels in MM patients with healthy controls. In these 10 studies (n = 17,213), pooled analyses showed that MM patients had significantly lower HDL-C levels compared to healthy controls (MD: −13.07 mg/dl, 95% CI: −17.83, −8.32, p < 0.00001). Regarding secondary endpoints, total cholesterol (TC) (MD: −22.19 mg/dl, 95% CI: −39.08, −5.30) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) (−40.20 mg/dl, 95% CI: −55.00, −25.39) demonstrated significant decreases, while differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (MD: −11.33 mg/dl, 95% CI: −36.95, 14.30) and triglycerides (MD: 9.93 mg/dl, 95% CI: −3.40, 23.26) were not shown to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: HDL-C, as well as TC and apoA-I, levels are significantly decreased in MM. Hence, lipid profile parameters should be taken into account when assessing such patients.