Abstract P098

Impact of Exercise interventions during chemotherapy in functional capacity and patient-reported outcomes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma

Background: Exercise interventions (EI) during chemotherapy may improve functional capacity (FC) and patient-reported outcomes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, the relationship between objective exercise performance, fatigue, and quality of life (QL) after treatment completion remains insufficiently characterized. The aim of this preliminary analysis from the EDONOLA study was to examine the subgroup of patients with HL and explore associations between functional capacity and QL outcomes.

Methods: QL questionnaires (HM-PRO and QLQ-FA12) and functional capacity assessments (Modified Shuttle Walk Test [MSWT] and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing [CPET], were analysed. Patients were evaluated before (T0) and after (T2) ABVD CT combined with either an EI or usual care. Ten adults with HL requiring systemic treatment were included (mean age: 44 years; 80% female) . Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and are presented as medians and interquartile ranges (IQR). Changes from T0 to T2 were explored descriptively, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated to assess associations.

Results: The EI group demonstrated greater improvements in FC than the control group. The median increase in MSWT distance was 80 m in the EI group compared with 50 m in the control group (Table 1). Correlation analyses revealed weak-to-moderate associations between changes in FC and changes in QL for fatigue, although none reached statistical significance. A moderate negative correlation was observed between changes in MSWT distance and HM-PRO Part A scores (r = –0.44, p = 0.38), suggesting that greater improvements in walking performance may be associated with better perceived health status. The EI group showed larger improvements in both absolute and relative VO2peak values.

Conclusions: Comparison of changes from T0 to T2 showed a favourable trend in the EI group relative to the control group. Median changes in FC measures suggest greater improvements following the EI. The observed negative correlation between MSWT distance and HM-PRO Part A scores may indicate that improved FC is associated with fewer limitations in daily activities and better perceived QL. Although the EI group demonstrated enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, considerable inter-individual variability was observed, and no statistically significant associations were confirmed. Given the limited sample size, these findings should be considered exploratory.