P1729: COMPARING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BETWEEN HAEMATOLOGICAL CANCER AND MYELOMA PATIENTS: FINDINGS FROM AN ONLINE SURVEY

Background: Haematological cancers are risk factors for severe COVID-19, and multiple myeloma (MM) patients may have further risk due to older age and susceptibility to infections.

Aims: This study aims to understand the pandemic’s psychosocial impact and investigate whether MM patients experience extra stress compared to non-MM blood cancers.

Methods: The IMPaCCT survey is 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).

Results: Overall, 944 blood cancer patients responded (173 MM, 93 leukaemia, 117 lymphoma and 561 with a myeloproliferative neoplasm). Most were female, resided in the UK and did not live alone. Patients with MM were older (p<0.001) and less likely to be in employment (p<0.001), with more having received their cancer diagnoses in the last 5 years (p<0.001) than non-MM. Only three had a COVID diagnosis, with none having MM. Both groups reported high levels of concern about COVID, and this level was higher in MM; 50% of MM patients reported they were “extremely concerned”. In both groups, most said they would be less concerned about COVID if they didn’t have cancer.

While 70% reported their QoL as good/very good across both groups, QoL was lower in physical, psychological and social domains than healthy pre-pandemic UK norms. Patients reported more satisfaction with environmental factors, such as living arrangement and access to services, however.

There were high rates of anxiety/depression (67%, severe in 5%) and MM patients reported more issues with pain, mobility and engaging in their normal activities. Of the overall 84% who reported COVID had changed their lives, 63% found this hard to manage.

Patients’ most trusted sources for information about COVID-19 were healthcare providers and scientists for both groups (90% and 86% reported high levels of trust, respectively). Interestingly, MM patients had more trust in their friends and family for COVID information (58% with high trust in MM, vs. 41% in non-MM; p<0.001).

Regarding services, 43% had used telemedicine, with more MM patients using this service (61% of MM, 39% of non-MM). Most reported a positive experience. Health appointments were changed in format for most, and more often in MM patients (Changes: 69% of MM, 52% of non-MM) –with oncologist/haematologist visits most affected. In MM, treatments were changed, delayed or cancelled for 34%, which was significantly higher than non-MM (11%).

Summary/Conclusion: This study summarises the self-reported impacts of COVID on psychosocial health and care access during the early pandemic in vulnerable patient groups; MM patients are also highlighted as especially vulnerable. Understanding the needs of these patients will enable healthcare providers to properly support them.