EHA 2024 – European Hematology Association
Conference: June 13 – 16, Madrid
Title:
An examination of the effects of age, sex and relapse on the psychosocial wellbeing of patients with lymphoma – an analysis of the Lymphoma Coalition’s 2022 Global Patient Survey
Authors:
S. Kalloger¹, N. Bolaños², S. Sajkowski³, A. Watson³, and I. Warwick³
- Lymphoma Coalition, Las Vegas, United States of America
- Lymphoma Coalition, Madrid, Spain
- Lymphoma Coalition, Mississauga, Canada
Introduction
Psychosocial outcomes across the lymphoma spectrum are poorly understood. Demographic factors are thought to play a significant role, as does disease course and treatments received.
Aim
This study explored the effect of age, biological sex, and relapse status in a large cohort of patients with lymphoma across seven psychosocial domains:
- Loss of self-esteem (LSE)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Concerns about body image / physical appearance (BI/PA)
- Changes in relationships (CR)
- Isolation (I)
- Depression (D)
- Anxiety (A)
Method
The cohort was composed of respondents to the 2022 Global Patient Survey on Lymphomas & CLL and included the following subtypes:
- Mantle Cell: 8%
- Hodgkin: 29%
- Follicular: 36%
- Diffuse Large B-cell: 27%
Approach:
- Nominal logistic regression was used to develop individual models for each of the eight psychosocial domains.
- Age was modelled as a continuous variable.
- Biological sex and relapse status were modelled as nominal variables.
- Relapse status was categorized into none, one, or more than one instance.
- Effect tests were calculated with the likelihood ratio chi-square statistic.
- Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each predictor.
- ORs < 1 and > 1 indicate a reduction or increase in incidence of a psychosocial outcome, respectively.
Results
- Total respondents with non-missing data: 2,326 (63% female).
- Mean age: 51 years (range 18–90 years).
- Relapse incidence: 24% (none), 17% (one), 9% (more than one).
Psychosocial Domains (Figures 2–8 illustrate odds ratios and significance):
- Loss of Self-Esteem (LSE)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Body Image / Physical Appearance (BI/PA)
- Changes in Relationships (CR)
- Isolation (I)
- Depression (D)
- Anxiety (A)
Conclusions
- Psychosocial impacts of lymphoma are amplified in younger patients across every domain.
- Females reported increased impacts of psychosocial degradation.
- Relapse had a much smaller role than age or sex.
- Patients with a single relapse had a greater incidence of loss of self-esteem than those with more than one relapse, suggesting coping mechanisms develop over time.
Implications:
- Routine implementation of guidelines in clinical care is warranted to address psychosocial distress.
- Research in this area will help identify patients at heightened risk and direct resources to those in need of support.
Acknowledgement
The study was sponsored by AbbVie, BMS, Pharmacyclics, and Roche.
None of the authors benefited personally from the research.
Contact Information
For further details on the LC 2022 GPS, please see the QR code or visit:
https://lymphomacoalition.org/global-patient-survey/
Research Department – Lymphoma Coalition
📧 Email: steve@lymphomacoalition.org
Summary
- Study focus: Examined how age, sex, and relapse affect psychosocial wellbeing in lymphoma patients using data from the 2022 Global Patient Survey (2,326 respondents, 63% female, mean age 51).
- Lymphoma subtypes included: Mantle Cell (8%), Hodgkin (29%), Follicular (36%), Diffuse Large B-cell (27%).
Key Findings
- Younger patients experienced greater psychosocial impacts across all domains.
- Females reported more psychosocial distress than males.
- Relapse:
- Overall had less influence than age or sex.
- Patients with one relapse showed greater loss of self-esteem than those with multiple relapses (possible coping mechanisms).
Psychosocial Domains Analyzed
- Loss of self-esteem
- PTSD
- Body image / physical appearance concerns
- Changes in relationships
- Isolation
- Depression
- Anxiety
Conclusion
- Psychosocial distress is common and influenced most by age and sex rather than relapse frequency.
- Findings highlight the need for routine psychosocial support and guideline implementation in lymphoma care.
- Directing resources to high-risk groups (younger patients and females) is critical.