Exercise Capacity and Physical Activity Levels in Newly Diagnosed Hematologic Malignant Patients

Hematologic malignancies are neoplasms that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Hematological malignancies are the most common forms of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, with numerous subtypes. The general symptoms of leukemia are fatigue, increased susceptibility to infection, bleeding, and the formation of bruises easily. Typical lymphoma symptoms are night sweats and involuntary weight loss, recurrent fever, fatigue, and itching. Myeloma patients often have bone pain, fatigue, anemia, hypercalcemia or infection symptoms.

Adverse effects of hematologic malignancies and treatments cause abnormality in physical function and quality of life. Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which may have side effects on the body systems are used in early or late period. The most common side effect due to chemotherapy is fatigue. Vomiting, weight loss, anemia, depression, decreased aerobic capacity, loss of muscle strength, decreased physical functioning and deterioration in the quality of life are indirect side effects seen in patients.

In the literature, side effects of hematological malignancies have been investigated after treatment in patients. However, no study investigated exercise capacity, quality of life, physical activity level and pulmonary functions on newly diagnosed hematologic malignant patients. Therefore, the investigators aimed to compare aforementioned outcomes in newly diagnosed hematologic malignant patients and healthy controls.