Common Heart Drugs Don't Worsen Survival in Multiple Myeloma

Study finds cardiovascular medications like statins and diuretics do not negatively impact outcomes for myeloma patients

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A new international study has found that commonly prescribed heart medications, including statins, diuretics, and blood pressure drugs, do not negatively affect the survival of patients with multiple myeloma. The research, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed data from three major Phase III clinical trials involving 1,804 myeloma patients and found that most cardiovascular drug classes were not associated with worse survival outcomes.

Why it matters

Many multiple myeloma patients require cardiovascular medications, so understanding whether these common drugs impact cancer progression or treatment-related side effects is an important clinical question. The findings provide reassurance to doctors and patients that several heart medication classes can often be continued without clear evidence of harming survival.

The details

The study examined the effects of widely used cardiovascular medications like antihypertensives, cholesterol-lowering therapies, and drugs for heart rhythm disorders. While the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) was associated with longer progression-free survival, these patients also had higher odds of severe adverse events like kidney and metabolic complications. The researchers say this observation warrants closer monitoring of patients on these medications, but does not necessarily mean they should be stopped automatically.

  • The study was published on March 1, 2026.

The players

Dr. Ahmad Abuhelwa

The study's lead author and Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics at the University of Sharjah.

Humaid Al-Shamsi

A co-author, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and a consultant oncologist and the CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute in the UAE.

Dr. Ziad Abuhelwa

A co-author and Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellow at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Dr. Ahmad Abuhelwa, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics at the University of Sharjah

“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.”

— Humaid Al-Shamsi, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and consultant oncologist and CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute in the UAE

“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.”

— Dr. Ziad Abuhelwa, Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellow at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida

What’s next

The researchers plan to expand their analysis beyond just drug classes to evaluate factors like dose, duration, adherence, treatment changes during therapy, and interactions with specific myeloma regimens. This will help develop practical risk-stratification approaches to identify which patients can safely continue certain cardiovascular drugs and who may benefit from closer monitoring or medication review.

The takeaway

This study provides reassurance to clinicians and multiple myeloma patients that several common cardiovascular drug classes, including statins and diuretics, were not linked to worse survival outcomes in major clinical trials. However, the findings also suggest a need for closer monitoring of patients on ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers due to an increased risk of serious adverse events.