Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Caregiving and Related Resource Needs

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) caregivers play a central role in disease management—a role that has been heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic given the healthcare system’s reliance on frontline family caregivers and CLL patients’ increased risk of infection and mortality. Using a mixed-method design, we investigated the impact of the pandemic on CLL caregivers (Aim 1) and their perceived resource needs (Aim 2): 575 CLL caregivers responded to an online survey; 12 spousal CLL caregivers were interviewed. Two open-ended survey items were thematically analyzed and compared with interview findings. Aim 1 results showed that two years into the pandemic, CLL caregivers continue to struggle with coping with distress, living in isolation, and losing in-person care opportunities. Caregivers described experiencing increasing caregiving burden, realizing the vaccine may not work or didn’t work for their loved one with CLL, feeling cautiously hopeful about EVUSHELD, and dealing with unsupportive/skeptical individuals. Aim 2 results indicate that CLL caregivers needed reliable, ongoing information about COVID-19 risk, information about and access to vaccination, safety/precautionary measures, and monoclonal infusions. Findings illustrate ongoing challenges facing CLL caregivers and provide an agenda to better support the caregivers of this vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic.