Project #134:
Impact of COVID-19 in people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a cancer which affects white blood cells that mostly affects people over age 60. Individuals with CLL have weaker immune systems and therefore are at great risk from both contracting, and subsequently experiencing severe outcomes from, COVID-19. Vaccines within the CLL population are thought to be less effective than in the general population.

The purpose of this study is to describe trends over time in CLL measures, such as the mortality rate, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We intend to compare trends within the CLL subpopulation against a subpopulation without CLL. Additionally we plan to report differences between subgroups of interest, for example: age groups, geographical regions, other illnesses. There are many factors that could affect mortality risk, such as: behavioural interventions (e.g. lockdowns, mask wearing), vaccination status of individuals, or the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 circulating within the population. To provide context to our mortality rates, we will describe the temporal population-wide state of these factors.

This may help to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with CLL.