-New insights show Black, Hispanic, and Asian
patients have more negative emotional experiences and outlooks with
their chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosis and
treatment journeys
-CLL is one of the most common
leukemias among adults affecting more than 200,000 people in the
U.S.1,2
NORTH
CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie announced groundbreaking results today
from its latest Emotional Impact Report (EIR), a
patient survey that provides an understanding of the mental health
impacts of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosis. Findings
from the survey are the first to report the emotional perspectives
of Hispanic, Black, and Asian patients with CLL and their unique
experiences and challenges throughout their blood cancer
journey.3 The findings were shared during the 66th
American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition
at an ancillary event.
"Patients with CLL often grapple with the psychological burden
of living with a slow-growing cancer, which can affect their mental
health and overall well-being, regardless of their ethnic
background. With the Emotional Impact Report, we wanted to lead the
charge of looking at perspectives from underrepresented patients
with CLL to better understand their unique needs," said
Andy Souers, Ph.D., vice president,
Oncology Discovery Research, AbbVie. "To fix the challenges,
you must first illuminate them. We are committed to working with
the community to gain a better understanding and meet the needs of
all patients with CLL."
"As someone who has spent their entire career working to educate
and inspire Black Americans to make better health decisions, I see
AbbVie's Emotional Impact Report as a step in the right direction
to highlight the specific emotional challenges experienced by
minorities impacted by blood cancer," said Reggie Ware, CEO of BlackDoctor.org and speaker
at AbbVie's panel event. "Collecting representative insights helps
ensure that all voices are heard, and all experiences are
acknowledged."
Norms and Beliefs: How Culture Impacts the CLL
Journey
Cultural norms and beliefs often play a part in a
patient's experience with CLL. Among ethnically diverse patients
surveyed, many strongly feel the need for educational and emotional
support resources tailored to their cultural beliefs (45% Asian;
38% Hispanic; and 24% Black) compared to only 2% of Caucasian
respondents. Additionally, more than a third of ethnically diverse
patients are more comfortable interacting with HCPs who share their
race/ethnicity. Findings also show that ethnically diverse patients
are underutilizing online support groups, with very few reporting
using this resource to learn about CLL (19% Hispanic; 23% Asian;
and 35% Black).
Challenges at Diagnosis: Emotions and Worries About the
Future
When diagnosed with a slow-growing blood cancer like
CLL, patients surveyed indicate challenges in coping with their
emotional reactions and dealing with the reactions of their family
members. Specifically, when asked about their emotions at the time
of diagnosis, both Black/Hispanic/Asian and Caucasian patient
groups felt fear (67% and 90%, respectively) and surprise (56% and
71%, respectively) as their predominant feelings. Hispanic patients
in particular report that substantial hardships weigh heavily on
them once diagnosed, including uncertainty about next steps (72%),
with over 30% of all Hispanic respondents considering it a
challenge to feel listened to when describing their symptoms.
Ethnically diverse patients also have more concerns about financial
challenges due to medical expenses (35% Black; 39% Asian; and 53%
Hispanic) compared to Caucasian respondents (18%).
Patient and Physician Relationships: A Notable
Disconnect
Effective communication with healthcare
professionals (HCPs) is crucial for managing CLL. However, less
than half of patients across all groups surveyed feel supported by
their doctors in managing the emotional impact of their disease
(29% Asian; 30% Black; 33% Caucasian; and 38% Hispanic). Among
ethnically diverse patients, 30% desire more time during check-ins
to discuss their emotional and mental health. And, when it comes to
setting their treatment goals, only half of Black patients feel
they collaborate effectively with their HCPs, with Hispanic and
Asian patients at 38% and 35%, respectively. On an overall level,
on-treatment patients have a less positive perception of their
treatment experience compared to off-treatment patients.
"Having someone to talk to about their treatment goals and
emotional needs is crucial for patients with CLL," said
Brian Koffman, M.D., Chief Medical
Officer of the CLL Society, who also spoke at the recent panel
event. "It provides them with a sense of support and understanding,
which is vital in helping them navigate the emotional complexities
of their diagnosis and treatment. Knowing they are not alone can
help empower them to face their journey with greater resilience and
hope."
AbbVie will continue to work with patient advocacy stakeholders
to develop actionable solutions that address the unmet needs
uncovered in the 2024 Emotional Impact Report survey. By
collaborating with advocacy groups, AbbVie aims to keep emotional
health at the forefront of the CLL care conversation so that all
patients can receive the personalized support they need and deserve
for their overall well-being.
This U.S.-based survey was conducted between July
8 – October 4, 2024, and responses were obtained from 232
participants, which included 131 Caucasian patients, 37 Black
patients, 32 Hispanic/Latinx patients, 31 Asian patients, 2
American Indian/Alaska Native patients and 1 Native Hawaiian/Other
Pacific Islander patient. The online survey was sponsored by AbbVie
and developed in consultation with Trinity Life Sciences.
Learn more about the Emotional Impact Report, including a
one-page overview of the survey findings here. Previously
reported findings from our 2022 Emotional Impact Report survey are
also available, including insights from patients with CLL,
caregivers and healthcare professionals.
To learn more about CLL, navigating a diagnosis, and
understanding treatment goals, visit CLLCancer.com.
About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
CLL is one of the
two most common forms of leukemia in adults and is a type of cancer
that can develop from cells in the bone marrow that later mature
into certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes).1
While these cancer cells start in the bone marrow, they later
spread into the blood. In 2021, there were approximately 215,107
people with CLL living in the United
States with more than 20,000 new cases expected in
2024.2 CLL is more common in older Caucasian males with
a median age at diagnosis of 65 to 74 years and only 11-13% of
known cases reported in non-Caucasian
populations.4,5
About the Survey
Participants (N = 232) in the
20-minute self-administered online survey represented an ethnically
diverse section of demographics and socio-economic statuses,
providing a comprehensive view of the CLL population including
Caucasian (n = 131), Black (n = 37), Hispanic/Latinx
(n = 32), Asian (n = 31), or other (n = 3*).
All surveys were completed between July 8,
2024, and October 4, 2024.
About Trinity Life Sciences
With almost 30 years
of expertise, a best-in-the-business team and unrivaled access to
data and analytics, Trinity Life Sciences is a modern partner to
companies in the life sciences industry. Trinity combines strategy,
insights, and analytics to help life science executives with
clinical and commercial decision-making. We serve over 300
pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients, helping them
develop the right drugs and devices for today's market and optimize
them once in market. We have a staff of over 1,200 people and 11
global offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Ultimately, we know that every decision
our clients make impacts a life, and when we help our clients
achieve their goals, the world benefits. To learn more about how
Trinity is elevating the industry and driving evidence to action,
visit TrinityLifeSciences.com.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and
deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious
health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow.
We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across
several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience,
and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics
portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us
at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie
on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly
Twitter), and YouTube.
About AbbVie in Oncology
At AbbVie, we are
committed to transforming standards of care for patients living
with difficult-to-treat cancers. We are advancing a dynamic
pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of cancer
types in both blood cancers and solid tumors. We are focusing on
creating targeted medicines that either impede the reproduction of
cancer cells or enable their elimination. We achieve this through
various, targeted treatment modalities and biology interventions,
including small molecule therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugates
(ADCs), Immuno-Oncology-based therapeutics, multi-specific antibody
and in situ CAR-T platforms. Our dedicated and experienced
team joins forces with innovative partners to accelerate the
delivery of potential breakthrough medicines.
Today, our expansive oncology portfolio comprises approved and
investigational treatments for a wide range of blood and solid
tumors. We are evaluating more than 20 investigational medicines in
multiple clinical trials across some of the world's most widespread
and debilitating cancers. As we work to have a remarkable impact on
people's lives, we are committed to exploring solutions to help
patients obtain access to our cancer medicines. For more
information, please visit http://www.abbvie.com/oncology.
*Other refers to American Indian/Alaska Native (n =
2) and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (n =
1)
References:
- American Cancer Society. Leukemia – Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/about/what-is-cll.html.
Accessed December 2024.
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia —
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed
December 2024.
- Trinity Life Sciences Database [Data on File].
- Shanafelt, et al. Age at Diagnosis and the Utility of
Prognostic Testing in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(CLL). Cancer. 2010; 116(20): 4777–4787.
- Vardell, et al. Influence of racial and ethnic identity on
overall survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia. Am J Hematol. 2023.
doi:10.1002/ajh.26937.
US-ONCC-240035
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