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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematological malignancy resulting from clonal proliferation of plasma cells and is defined by criteria set forth by the international myeloma working group. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure >20mmHg measured during right heart catheterization. Echocardiography-diagnosed PH is relatively common in patients with MM and has been associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and poor stem cell transplant outcomes. PH in patients with MM (PH-MM) is usually multifactorial in origin. MM disease-specific factors, host comorbidities, and treatment-related adverse effects are the key factors for the development of PH-MM. Pragmatically, patients with PH-MM can be grouped into either (i) PH in patients with a new diagnosis of MM or (ii) PH that develops or worsens along the way of MM treatment. In the latter group, drug-induced PH, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary veno occlusive disease, and cardiotoxicity should be considered as possible causes. PH-MM should be evaluated and managed in a multidisciplinary setting. Select individuals with PH-MM could be considered for pulmonary vasodilators at PH-specialized centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptom control may become challenging for terminally ill patients as they near the end of life. Patients often seek hospital admission to address symptoms, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and restlessness. Alternatively, palliative medicine focuses on the control and mitigation of symptoms, while allowing patients to maintain their quality of life, whether in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Hospice care provides, in addition to inpatient care at a hospice facility or in a hospital, the option for patients to receive symptom management at home. This option for symptom control in the outpatient setting is essential to preventing repeated and expensive hospital readmissions. This article discusses the impact of hospice care on hospital readmission rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]