3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES MSc Course-Based Seminar by Tung Hoang. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
https://zoom.us/j/93805340999?pwd=Q0g5WExFM3dzekxjaFUzNFBsUWU0QT09
Meeting ID: 938 0534 0999 | Passcode: ygy97m
Project Topic: Does bigger muscle mass mean better quality of life?
MSc with Dr. Vera Mazurak.
Seminar Abstract:
Background: Low muscle mass is a critical concern in cancer patients as it may lead to poorer tolerance to chemotherapy, significant decline in a patients’ performance status, and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Cancer patients frequently experience loss of muscle mass; however, in the published literature, it is not known to what degree patients are concerned about muscle loss and the impact it has on their quality of life.
Objective: The aim of my research is to investigate changes of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) while receiving chemotherapy treatment and the association with health-related quality of life. The secondary aim is to investigate the association between skeletal muscle mass and physical function in cancer patients who receiving chemotherapy treatment.
Design, Setting, participants:
Available data for patients with confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer scheduled for platinum-based chemotherapy treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB (n=22). Baseline and endpoint measurements of body composition, physical performance and skeletal muscle strength, health-related quality of life outcomes, were measured at the entry level and approximately 21±5 days after the last day of chemotherapy, respectively. Differences in muscle mass over time and patient reported physical function, HRQoL were collected and analysed.
Results: The final sample included 13 men (59.1%) and 9 women (40.9%), with a mean age of 61.92 7.16 and 65.0 6.78 respectively. The mean of BMI was 28.84 6.08 kg/m2, and mean follow-up time was 113.27 54.79 days. In regression analysis, skeletal muscle index has a significant impact on all EORTC QLQ–C30 subscales. Regression parameters are positive, indicating that bigger SMM was significantly associated with an improvement in health-related quality of life, including less pain (B=0.841, SE=2.360, 95% CI: -0.281 to -0.016, p=0.036) and fatigue (B=0.860, SE=2.230, 95% CI: -0.375 to -0.036, p=0.028).
Conclusion: In conclusion, bigger SMM was significantly associated with better quality of life, including less pain and fatigue, in lung cancer patients after receiving chemotherapy treatment. Considering this, further research should be conducted to evaluate and improve SMM to provide improved pain and fatigue control as well as health-related QOL for those undergoing chemotherapy in advanced lung cancer.
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