OBJECTIVES: To estimate overall work impairment, and indirect costs, of Leukemia and Lymphoma (L&L) patients and caregivers in Portugal, and to explore the relationship of HRQoL with these variables.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Specific Health (WPAI-SH) questionnaire, shared online, with the support of three national Patient Associations. Indirect costs were calculated using official National unit costs and variables from WPAI-SH. Two generalized linear models (GLM), for patients and caregivers, were used to explore the relationship between HRQoL and overall work impairment (using FACT-G for patients and QASCI for caregivers, a Portuguese instrument for the assessment of caregiver burden), adjusted by age, sex, education, ongoing treatment, and time since diagnosis (for patients) and duration of care (for caregivers). For indirect costs, a two-part model (logit and GLM) was used.

RESULTS: 112 (n=45 Leukemia; n=67 Lymphoma) and 90 currently employed patients and caregivers answered the questionnaire between October-December 2022. Mean FACT-G score was 73.5(SD=16.2); mean QASCI score was 71.3(SD=17.6), measured from 0 to 160 (highest burden). Patients reported an overall work impairment of 33%(SD=38%) (e.g., 25% for chronic leukemia; 39% for acute leukemia), and caregivers 53%(SD=37%) (e.g., 35% for chronic leukemia; 68% for acute leukemia). Mean annual indirect cost per patient and caregiver was 6,157€ (SD=7,093€) and 9,951€ (SD=7,025€), respectively. When FACT-G score decreases by one-unit, overall work impairment increases by 0.68 p.p. (p<0.01), and indirect costs increase by 169€ (p<0.01). For caregivers, when QASCI score increases by one-unit, overall work impairment increases by 0.75 p.p. (p<0.01), and indirect costs increase by 148€ (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: FACT-G and QASCI are significantly related with overall work impairment, and consequently with indirect costs, in L&L patients and caregivers, respectively. Further studies, with a larger number of participants, should be conducted to explore differences within each type of Leukemia and Lymphoma.