Prevalence of Pre-Treatment Sarcopenia in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Lymphoma

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia, defined by reduced muscle strength, mass, and performance, presents a significant challenge in cancer care due to its impact on treatment outcomes, quality of life, and survival. This study aimed to assess its prevalence in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients.

METHODS: Adults planned for first-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy were enrolled and screened for sarcopenia before treatment. Sarcopenia was defined by the European guidelines (EWGSOP2) using low muscle strength (hand-grip), low muscle mass (DXA), and low physical performance (gait speed).

RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (mean age 57, 19 women) were included. Six patients (9%) had low hand-grip strength, 15 (22%) had low muscle mass, and 4 (6%) demonstrated low gait speed. Two patients met the criteria for sarcopenia, with one having severe sarcopenia.

CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia prevalence was 3%, but 22% had low muscle mass, suggesting muscle strength alone may not be an optimal screening tool for lymphoma patients.