Patient Perspectives on Mild-Moderate Infection Burden in Multiple Myeloma and Chronic Lymphocytic/Small Lymphocytic Leukemia
Author(s)
Matthew Quaife, PhD1, Chiara Whichello, PhD1, Gabriela Fernandez, MPH2, Quazi Ataher, PhD3, Bharat Ramakrishna, MD3, Julia Braverman, PhD3.
1PPD Evidera Patient Centered Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific, London, United Kingdom, 2PPD Evidera Patient Centered Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA, 3CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
1PPD Evidera Patient Centered Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific, London, United Kingdom, 2PPD Evidera Patient Centered Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA, 3CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To explore patient perspectives on the burden of mild-moderate infections including upper respiratory tract infections among people with multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in the context of secondary immunodeficiency (SID).
METHODS: Web-assisted 60-minute interviews were conducted in the US. The interviews were guided by two main topics: 1) SID experience and impacts, and 2) perceptions of mild-moderate infections. Respondents also completed a thresholding exercise to quantify the mild-moderate infection risk that they would value as equivalent to a severe infection risk increase (from 5% to 20% over two years). Qualitative data were analyzed using a combination of matrix and rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) techniques. Thresholding data were analyzed descriptively.
RESULTS: Sixteen people with MM (n=8) and CLL or SLL (n=8) participated. All participants (100%) had experienced infections since initiating cancer treatment. Most (n=10, 63%) believed they experienced more infections compared to before treatment initiation, and that symptoms were both more frequent and more severe. Half of participants (n=8, 50%) paused treatments due to infections. Three-quarters (n=13, 72%) reported social distancing leading to self-isolation, avoiding public spaces, or avoiding social activities for fear of contracting an infection. Mild to moderate infections impacted patients’ daily lives significantly and in comparable ways to severe infections, though the latter also had increased burden from hospitalization. Patients valued a one percentage-point increase in mild-moderate infection risk around 54% as much as a one percentage-point increase in serious infection risk over two years.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that mild-moderate infections significantly impact the daily lives of people with MM and CLL/SLL, comparably to severe infections. These findings reinforce the need for improved infection prevention and management strategies in the context of SID among people receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
METHODS: Web-assisted 60-minute interviews were conducted in the US. The interviews were guided by two main topics: 1) SID experience and impacts, and 2) perceptions of mild-moderate infections. Respondents also completed a thresholding exercise to quantify the mild-moderate infection risk that they would value as equivalent to a severe infection risk increase (from 5% to 20% over two years). Qualitative data were analyzed using a combination of matrix and rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) techniques. Thresholding data were analyzed descriptively.
RESULTS: Sixteen people with MM (n=8) and CLL or SLL (n=8) participated. All participants (100%) had experienced infections since initiating cancer treatment. Most (n=10, 63%) believed they experienced more infections compared to before treatment initiation, and that symptoms were both more frequent and more severe. Half of participants (n=8, 50%) paused treatments due to infections. Three-quarters (n=13, 72%) reported social distancing leading to self-isolation, avoiding public spaces, or avoiding social activities for fear of contracting an infection. Mild to moderate infections impacted patients’ daily lives significantly and in comparable ways to severe infections, though the latter also had increased burden from hospitalization. Patients valued a one percentage-point increase in mild-moderate infection risk around 54% as much as a one percentage-point increase in serious infection risk over two years.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that mild-moderate infections significantly impact the daily lives of people with MM and CLL/SLL, comparably to severe infections. These findings reinforce the need for improved infection prevention and management strategies in the context of SID among people receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR174
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Disease
Oncology