AbbVie’s Emotional Impact Report Highlights Cultural And Emotional Challenges In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

AbbVie has established significant findings from its 2024 Emotional Impact Report (EIR), focusing on how a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) diagnosis affects patients' mental health, particularly among Hispanic, Black, and Asian communities. These insights, presented during the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, explore these groups' unique emotional and cultural challenges throughout their CLL journey.

Andy Souers, PhD, vice president, Oncology Discovery Research, AbbVie, said in a statement, "Patients with CLL often grapple with the psychological burden of living with 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 look at perspectives from underrepresented patients with CLL to better understand their unique needs. 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. Collecting representative insights helps ensure that all voices are heard and all experiences are acknowledged," stated Reggie Ware, CEO of BlackDoctor.org and speaker at AbbVie's panel event.

Cultural Influence on the CLL Experience

Cultural norms play a key role in shaping patients' experiences. Many Asian (45%), Hispanic (38%), and Black (24%) patients expressed a strong need for educational and emotional support tailored to their cultural backgrounds, compared to only 2% of Caucasian respondents. Additionally, many ethnically diverse patients prefer healthcare providers (HCPs) who share their race or ethnicity. However, online support groups remain underutilised among these groups, with usage rates of 19% for Hispanic, 23% for Asian, and 35% for Black patients.

Emotional Challenges at Diagnosis

A CLL diagnosis often brings emotional and practical challenges. Fear and surprise were the most common reactions, affecting 67% and 56% of Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients, compared to 90% and 71% of Caucasian respondents. Hispanic patients reported unique struggles, including uncertainty about the next steps (72%) and difficulties feeling heard when describing their symptoms (30%). Financial concerns were also more prominent among ethnically diverse groups, with 35% of Black, 39% of Asian, and 53% of Hispanic patients reporting significant worries about medical costs, compared to 18% of Caucasian respondents.

Communication Gaps with Healthcare Providers

Effective communication with HCPs emerged as a critical area for improvement. Less than half of all surveyed patients felt emotionally supported by their doctors, with Hispanic (38%), Asian (29%), Black (30%), and Caucasian (33%) patients reporting low satisfaction. Many ethnically diverse patients expressed a desire for more time to discuss emotional and mental health during check-ins. Collaboration on treatment goals was also a concern, with only 50% of Black patients and fewer than 40% of Hispanic and Asian patients feeling involved in their care planning.

Next Steps

AbbVie plans to address these unmet needs by partnering with advocacy groups to create solutions that prioritise emotional health as part of comprehensive CLL care. By emphasising personalised support and bridging communication gaps, AbbVie aims to enhance the overall well-being of all CLL patients. The survey, conducted between July and October 2024, involved 232 U.S.-based participants, including diverse ethnicities. AbbVie sponsored it in collaboration with Trinity Life Sciences.