OBJECTIVES: To evaluate workplace productivity loss among U.S. adult patients in the six months following an initial diagnosis with multiple myeloma (MM) who were treated with MM-directed drug therapies alone (DT) versus with autologous stem cell transplant (SCT). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) and Health and Productivity Management (HPM) databases. Employed patients with six months of continuous enrollment in their medical benefits plan and for disability benefits (long term disability (LTD), short term disability (STD), workplace absenteeism (WAB)) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of multiple myeloma is associated with significant productivity loss, as measured by use of disability benefits. Nearly half of all patients diagnosed with MM experience productivity loss. Both SCT and drug treatment are associated with productivity loss. Future work will assess the economic impact of this productivity loss.