The risk factors for developing MM include:

• Age: MM occurs mainly in older About 83 per cent of cases diagnosed with MM are aged over 60 (AIHW 2021). Very few people are diagnosed below age 40 (Bladé & Kyle 1998; Kyle et al. 2003).
• Clinically defined MGUS: The average risk of someone with MGUS developing MM is about 1 per cent per year (Quach & Prince 2019).
• Family history: People who have a first-degree relative with MM have a two-fold or higher increased risk of developing MM (Lynch et al. 2021); however, the absolute risk for anyone with a relative with MM is An underlying genetic cause has not been identified and there is no available screening test for genetic predisposition.
• Ethnicity: People of black African, Maori and Pacific Islander descent are more likely to develop MM (Kyle et 2003; Marinac et al. 2020; Phillips at al. 2007; Shirley et al. 2013).
• Gender: MM is slightly more common in males than females (AIHW 2021).
• Weight: Increased body mass index has been associated with increased risk of MM (Islami et 2019; Kyrgiou et al. 2017; Lauby-Secretan et al. 2016).
• Some studies have reported that exposure to radiation and chemicals is linked to increased risk of developing MM; however, published evidence has not been consistent (Bumma et 2020; Sergentanis et al. 2015; Stenehjem et al. 2015).