Abstract P072

Study of long-term survivorship of lymphoma patients – a multicenter longitudinal study of return to work and quality of life (ALLY)

Background: Due to improving treatment options over the past decades, lymphoma long-term survivors and their ability to participate in work substantially gain in importance. However, only a few studies have identified influencing factors for their return to work process so far. Thus, this study aims to investigate the association between demographic, psychosocial, work-specific, and motivational factors in addition to medical aspects and lymphoma patients’ return to work.

Methods: This longitudinal, multicenter study is planned and conducted by the Stuttgart Cancer Center and 3 other clinics of the Onkologischer Schwerpunkt Stuttgart. Patients with Hodgkin ́s lymphoma (HL), Mantel cell lymphoma, Follicular lymphoma, and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma aged 18-65 years who receive systemic chemotherapy either at initial diagnosis (ID) or relapse are included in our study. Partly abbreviated standardized and validated questionnaires (e.g. COPSOQ, UWES, EORTC QLQ-C30) assess patients' work and life situation at ID as well as 6 and 12 months after the end of therapy. These parameters are correlated with clinical data (disease stage, prognosis scores, and ECOG PS). Patient recruitment started in May 2021 and is ongoing.

Result: So far 66 patients agreed to participate, including 21 (32%) patients with HL. Among patients with HL, 48% of patients were female, symptom burden was generally low (82% ECOG PS 0), 57% were married or in a permanent relationship and 42% were solely responsible for the total household income. At ID 70% of patients were working full time, 15% part time and 10% were unemployed. At 6 months 64% of respondents had returned to work. 86% of patients reported no change in their working situation and 14% of patients changed their working place. The average time of return to work was 20 weeks. Surprisingly, first analyses did not show any correlation between patients ́ prognosis on their future return to work and their current work situation. However, patients who reported higher levels of fatigue and depression were less optimistic about their return to work.

Authors

Ruth Elisa Eyl-Armbruster, Julia Wendler, Ramona Böttinger, Simone Neumaier, Antje Jensch, Markus Knott, Susanne Rössle, Nicola Giesen, Jessika Strentzsch, Veronika Schindler, Hans-Georg Kopp, Jochen Greiner, Claudio Denzlinger, Gerald Illerhaus