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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Mar 3;20(1):169.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-020-6637-6.

Physical function in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma; a Danish cohort study

Rikke Faebo Larsen  1   2   3 , Mary Jarden  4   5 , Lisbeth Rosenbek Minet  6   7   8 , Ulf Christian Frølund  9 , Sören Möller  6   10 , Niels Abildgaard  6   11   12
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Physical function in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma; a Danish cohort study

Rikke Faebo Larsen et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Multiple myeloma is a cancer in the bone marrow causing bone destruction. Patients experience various symptoms related to the disease and/or treatment, such as pain and fatigue, leading to poorer quality of life. The symptom burden might affect physical function and physical activity levels, posing a risk of physical deterioration. The aim was to investigate whether physical function in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma differs from the reference values of the normal population and other cancer patients.

Methods: The study is a cross sectional descriptive analysis of a prospective cohort of 100 patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Four physical function tests were carried out; Six-Minute-Walk-Test, Sit-to-Stand-Test, grip strength and knee extension strength. Age and gender specific results of physical function from the multiple myeloma population were compared to normative data and to data from other cancer populations.

Results: Of the 100 patients included, 73% had bone disease and 55% received pain relieving medicine. Mean age was 67.7 years (SD 10.3). Patients with multiple myeloma had significantly poorer physical function compared to normative data, both regarding aerobic capacity and muscle strength, although not grip strength. No differences in physical function were found between patients with multiple myeloma and other cancer populations.

Conclusions: Physical function in newly diagnosed Danish patients with multiple myeloma is lower than in the normal population. Exercise intervention studies are warranted to explore the value of physical exercise on physical function.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT02439112, registered 8 May 2015.

Keywords: Bone disease; Cross sectional; Multiple myeloma; Physical function; Reference values.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a-d Age group and gender specific Six-Minute-Walk-Test and Sit-to-Stand-Test in EMMY population, normal population, and cancer populations. a Normal [34]. Lymphoma [37], Prostate (+/− ADT) [38]. b Normal [34]. Lymphoma [37], Breast A [40]. Breast B [41]. c Normal population [34]. Prostate [39]. d Normal population [34]. Breast [40]. EMMY data are illustrated by means and SD-bars (within the 5 year intervals) and reference values from the normal populations are illustrated by curves (full line indicates mean and dotted lines are +/− SD)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a-d Age group and gender specific grip and knee extension strength in EMMY population, normal population, and cancer populations. a Normal [35]. Lymphoma [37], Prostate (+/− ADT) [38]. b Normal [35]. Lymphoma [37]. Breast [40]. c Normal [36]. Lymphoma [37]. d Normal [36]. Lymphoma [37]. Breast [41]. EMMY data are illustrated by means and SD-bars (within the 5 years intervals for grip strength and 10 year intervals for knee extension strength) and reference values from the normal population are illustrated by curves (full line indicates mean and dotted lines indicate +/− SD)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Box plots for Six-Minute-Walk-Test, Sit-to-Stand-Test, and the strength measures according to bone status
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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