Cancer-Related Fatigue and Muscle Quality in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

The purpose of this study was to compare fatigue, strength, body composition, muscle thickness, and muscle quality between Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors (HLS) and apparently healthy subjects matched by age, gender, and physical activity levels (CON). Twelve HLS (32.16 ± 8.06) and 36 CON (32.42 ± 7.64) were enrolled in the study. Fatigue was assessed using the 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, muscle strength using an isokinetic dynamometer, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and thickness and muscle quality using B-mode ultrasound. Differences between HLS and CON were analyzed using independent samples t tests. No significant differences were observed between groups for any demographic characteristics: age (P = .922), weight (P = .943), height (P = .511), body mass index (P = .796), fat mass (P = .688), fat-free mass (P = .520), and percent body fat (P = .446). No significant differences were observed for strength (peak torque; P = .552), relative peak torque (P = .200), muscle thickness (P > .05) and muscle quality (P > .05). However, self-perceived fatigue was significantly higher in HLS than in CON (P = .009). It appears that when HLS are matched by age and physical activity levels to CON, no significant difference in body composition, muscle thickness, muscle quality, or strength is observed. Self-perceived fatigue, as predicted, is higher in HLS, which may have implications and should be considered when prescribing exercise training to this cancer population.