Heart Medications Don’t Negatively Impact Multiple Myeloma Survival, Study Finds

Commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications – including statins, diuretics, and blood pressure drugs – appear to have little to no negative impact on survival among people living with multiple myeloma, according to new international research published in Scientific Reports on February 7, 2026.¹

Study Details and Findings

The study, a collaboration among scientists and oncologists in the United States, Australia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), analyzed data from three major Phase III clinical trials in multiple myeloma: MAIA, POLLUX, and CASTOR.¹ These trials encompassed a total of 1,804 patients.

Researchers assessed whether patients already taking widely used cardiovascular drug classes at the start of treatment experienced differences in progression-free survival, overall survival, or the rate of serious adverse events related to treatment. The results were reassuring, indicating that most cardiovascular medication classes were not associated with worse survival outcomes after adjusting for clinical factors.¹

ACE Inhibitors and ARBs: A Nuance

Although most cardiovascular medications showed no negative impact, the use of ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) or ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) was associated with both longer progression-free survival and higher odds of severe (grade ≥3) adverse events, including kidney-related and metabolic complications.¹

ACE inhibitors and ARBs are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and to protect the heart and kidneys.

Multiple Myeloma and Cardiovascular Health

Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that arises in the bone marrow from malignant plasma cells.¹ It primarily affects adults, many of whom also manage heart and blood vessel conditions with medications like antihypertensive agents, cholesterol-lowering therapies, and drugs for heart rhythm disorders.¹ The disease affects an estimated 1-2% of all cancer cases and 10% of hematological malignancies.¹

Implications for Patient Care

Dr. Ahmad Abuhelwa, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics at the University of Sharjah and the study’s lead author, emphasized the positive implications for patients: “Many patients with multiple myeloma require cardiovascular medications. Our results support the idea that several common drug classes can often be continued without clear evidence of harming survival outcomes in the trial setting.”¹

Co-author Humaid Al-Shamsi, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, noted the practical value of the findings for clinicians: “In the clinic, patients often ask whether their heart medications will interfere with cancer treatment. Studies like this help us answer with evidence—and identify where closer monitoring might be needed.”¹

Researchers recommend closer monitoring of kidney function and metabolic parameters in patients taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs during myeloma therapy, particularly in older or more vulnerable individuals.¹

Future Research

The authors plan to expand their research to evaluate the impact of medication dose, duration of use, adherence, changes in treatment during therapy, and interactions with specific myeloma regimens.¹ They aim to develop risk-stratification approaches to identify patients who can safely continue cardiovascular drugs and those who may benefit from closer monitoring or medication review.¹

“The signal seen with ACE inhibitors/ARBs suggests clinicians may want to pay closer attention to safety, especially kidney function and metabolic parameters, in patients on these agents during therapy—particularly in older or more vulnerable patients,” said co-author Dr. Ziad Abuhelwa, a Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellow at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center.¹

Key Takeaways

• Commonly prescribed heart medications generally do not negatively impact survival in multiple myeloma patients.
• ACE inhibitors and ARBs may be associated with longer progression-free survival but also increased risk of severe side effects.
• Clinicians should monitor patients closely, especially those on ACE inhibitors or ARBs, for kidney and metabolic complications.
• Further research is needed to optimize cardiovascular supportive care in multiple myeloma treatment.

¹ Abuhelwa, A. Y., Almansour, S. A., Al-Shamsi, H. O., Abuhelwa, Z., Alqudah, M. A. Y., Bustanji, Y., Semreen, M. H., & Alzoubi, K. H. (2026). Cardiovascular medications and treatment outcomes in multiple myeloma: insights from phase III clinical trials. Scientific Reports, 16(7683). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37464-4