Health-related physical fitness in patients with multiple myeloma or lymphoma recently treated with autologous stem cell transplantation

Objectives We aimed to examine health-related physical fitness and its demographic and clinical correlates in patients recently treated with autologous stem cell transplantation. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods In 109 patients (multiple myeloma: n = 58, lymphoma: n = 51, median age: 55, range: 19–67 years) maximal exercise testing was conducted to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak). Upper and lower extremity muscle strength were assessed with hand grip- and fixed dynamometry and body composition with whole body DXA scans. In addition, we assessed the patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics and examined whether they were associated with health-related physical fitness. Results VO2peak was 21.7 (5.5) mL/min/kg, 26% below reference values. Muscle strength was also reduced when compared with reference values (upper extremity: 90%, lower extremity: 80%) and 73% of our population was classified as overweight or obese. Being female and being older were significantly associated with a lower cardiorespiratory fitness (gender: β = −2.7, 95%CI = −4.6;−0.7 mL/min/kg; age: β = −0.2, 95%CI = −0.3;−0.1 mL/min/kg), upper (gender: β = −17.7, 95%CI = −20.1;−15.3 kg; age: β = −0.2, 95%CI = −0.3;−0.1 kg) and lower (gender: β = −58.3, 95%CI = −73.5;− 43.0 Nm; age: β = −1.7, 95%CI = −2.4;−1.1 Nm) extremity muscle strength. Patients who were non-smoking (β = −5.3, 95%CI = −8.7;−1.9), women (β = 7.2, 95%CI = 4.8;9.6) and diagnosed with multiple myeloma (β = 4.6, 95%CI = 2.2;6.9) had a higher percentage body fat. Conclusions The physical fitness deficits in this population indicate the need for targeted interventions. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register - NTR234

The BETER survivorship care initiative for Hodgkin lymphoma; Tailored survivorship care for late effects of treatment

The Dutch BETER consortium has established a national care infrastructure for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. 'BETER' [the Dutch word for 'better'] stands for Better care after Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): Evaluation of longterm Treatment Effects and screening Recommendations. The survivorship care focuses on longterm effects of HL treatment. Over 10,000 HL survivors who were treated in the period spanning 19652008 have been identified. As part of the survivorship care initiative, specific BETER outpatient clinics have been set up. A dedicated website, www.beternahodgkin.nl, provides HL survivors with relevant information. The stakeholders of the BETER survivorship care programme aim to achieve an improved healthy life expectancy for patients treated for HL