**2. Early mortality in MM**

In patients with MM, several studies have shown that risk factors for early mortality include male gender, age >75 years, poor performance status, presence of comorbid medical conditions such as renal failure and hypertension, low platelet count, low serum albumin level, elevated serum levels of calcium and lactic dehydrogenase, low body mass index, presentation with primary plasma cell leukemia, advanced stage of disease at presentation, and infectious complications [20–25]. Two major studies that included 451 and 299 patients with MM showed that 65 and 45% of early deaths were attributable to infections [20, 21].

Despite the use of prophylactic antimicrobials, infections remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with MM [26]. In patients with MM, approximately 45% of deaths occurring within 60 days of diagnosis are caused by various infections, predominantly pneumonia and sepsis [20, 26].
