Comparing the Psychosocial Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Between Haematological Cancer and Myeloma Patients: Findings From an Online Survey

ABSTRACT

Haematological cancer is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and multiple myeloma (MM) patients may have further risk due to older age and susceptibility to infections. This study aims to understand the pandemic's psychosocial impact on people with haematological cancers, and investigate whether MM patients experience extra stress compared to non-MM patients. The IMPaCCT survey was an international, longitudinal online survey, open to cancer patients. The first survey captured the period April-July 2020 and used quantitative and qualitative measures of quality of life (QoL), including validated tools (WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D-5L). Overall, 944 blood cancer patients responded (173 MM, 93 leukaemia, 117 lymphoma, 561 myeloproliferative neoplasm). Most were female, resided in the United Kingdom and did not live alone. Patients with MM were older ( p < 0.001), and more of them had received their cancer diagnosis within the last 5 years ( p < 0.001) than non-MM patients. Only three participants had a COVID diagnosis and none of them had MM. In both MM and non-MM groups, most participants said they would be less concerned about COVID if they did not have cancer. Although 70% of respondents reported their QoL as good/ very good, QoL scores on WHOQOL-BREF were lower in the physical, psychological and social domains than healthy prepandemic UK norms 7 . Respondents reported more satisfaction with environmental factors, such as living arrangements and access to services, however, than prepandemic norms. In both groups there were high rates of anxiety/depression (67%, severe in 5%). MM patients reported more issues with pain and mobility than non-MM patients. Overall 84% of the respondents reported COVID had changed their lives, and 63% of them found this hard to manage. Patients' most trusted sources for information about COVID-19 were healthcare providers and scientists for MM and non-MM participants (90% and 86% with high levels of trust respectively). MM patients had more trust in their friends and family for COVID information than non-MM patients (58% with high level of trust vs. 41%;p < 0.001). Regarding services, 43% of participants had used telemedicine, with more MM than non-MM patients using this service (61% of MM vs. 39% of non-MM). Most reported it was a positive experience. Most participants experienced a changed format for their health appointments, particularly MM patients (69% of MM vs. 52% of non-MM). Appointments with oncologists or haematologists were most often affected. Thirty-four per cent of MM patients reported their treatments were changed or delayed, compared to 11% of non-MM blood cancer patients. This study summarises the self-reported impact of COVID on psychosocial health and care access during the early pandemic in vulnerable patient groups. Results indicate that MM patients are especially vulnerable. Better understanding the needs of these patients will enable healthcare providers to properly support them..