Multiple Myeloma Caregiver Costs and Disabilities Data for Economic Modeling and HTA Submissions
Author(s)
Malak Alsawady, MSc1, Renelle Tarnowska, MBA, MSc2, Amber Kudlac, BASc1, Sally-Anne Vincent, MSc1, Annie Lied-Lied, MPH, MSc2, Dominic Melrose, MSc2.
1Vitaccess, London, United Kingdom, 2Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine, High Wycombe, United Kingdom.
1Vitaccess, London, United Kingdom, 2Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine, High Wycombe, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: While the relationship between patient health, their caregivers, and caregiver burden is well-recognised, such “spillover effects” are seldom included in economic evaluations. This study aimed to highlight the hidden costs and time burdens experienced by informal caregivers of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
METHODS: Caregivers of MM patients were invited to complete an online survey including questions on the practical, financial, and time-related aspects of caregiving; the EQ-5D-5L; and the Caregiver Quality of Life - Cancer (CQOLC). The EQ-5D-5L was mapped to the EQ-5D-3L value set using the three-level crosswalk value set for scoring health state utilities.
RESULTS: One-hundred-and-twenty caregivers completed the survey; over three-quarters were female, with a mean age of 59.8 years. Economic burden was variably reported. Of 68 participants reporting a work-life impact, over 30% reported reduced performance, frequent time off work, and reduced work opportunities. Out-of-pocket costs for caregivers included payments for travel to medical appointments (88.3%), mobility aids (30%), and non-prescription drugs (20.8%). Participants reported spending 15-49 hours (36.7%) or 50 or more (23.3%) per week on caregiving activities, and 42.5% supported personal care and feeding. Further items associated with high time burden included social and emotional support (95.8%), attending appointments (91.7%), organising care (76.7%), and MM-related transport (80.8%). The EQ-5D-5L revealed variability in caregivers’ self-perceptions of their health state: while the mean utility value was 0.75, the range was broad (0.19-0.99). Several respondents reported severely impaired mobility, self-care, and usual activities, and levels of anxiety and/or depression were heterogenous. The CQOLC moderate total score of 70.7 reflected a detriment to caregivers’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
CONCLUSIONS: The humanistic and economic burden on caregivers of individuals with MM is significant, affecting HRQoL, time commitment, and out-of-pocket costs. This data can be utilised to enhance cost-effectiveness assessments of new MM treatments.
METHODS: Caregivers of MM patients were invited to complete an online survey including questions on the practical, financial, and time-related aspects of caregiving; the EQ-5D-5L; and the Caregiver Quality of Life - Cancer (CQOLC). The EQ-5D-5L was mapped to the EQ-5D-3L value set using the three-level crosswalk value set for scoring health state utilities.
RESULTS: One-hundred-and-twenty caregivers completed the survey; over three-quarters were female, with a mean age of 59.8 years. Economic burden was variably reported. Of 68 participants reporting a work-life impact, over 30% reported reduced performance, frequent time off work, and reduced work opportunities. Out-of-pocket costs for caregivers included payments for travel to medical appointments (88.3%), mobility aids (30%), and non-prescription drugs (20.8%). Participants reported spending 15-49 hours (36.7%) or 50 or more (23.3%) per week on caregiving activities, and 42.5% supported personal care and feeding. Further items associated with high time burden included social and emotional support (95.8%), attending appointments (91.7%), organising care (76.7%), and MM-related transport (80.8%). The EQ-5D-5L revealed variability in caregivers’ self-perceptions of their health state: while the mean utility value was 0.75, the range was broad (0.19-0.99). Several respondents reported severely impaired mobility, self-care, and usual activities, and levels of anxiety and/or depression were heterogenous. The CQOLC moderate total score of 70.7 reflected a detriment to caregivers’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
CONCLUSIONS: The humanistic and economic burden on caregivers of individuals with MM is significant, affecting HRQoL, time commitment, and out-of-pocket costs. This data can be utilised to enhance cost-effectiveness assessments of new MM treatments.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR163
Topic
Health Technology Assessment, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Oncology