ABSTRACT
Introduction
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent neoplastic disease in men. After diagnosis, different treatment regimens are proposed based on the stage of the cancer. These treatments affect physical and muscle function, quality of life, and prognosis differently.
Objectives
To assess fatigue, muscle strength, muscle thickness, and muscle quality in prostate cancer survivors undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
Methods
Ten ADT patients, eight non-ADT patients and 18 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Perceived fatigue was assessed through the 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Muscle thickness and quality (e.g., echo intensity) were assessed through B-mode ultrasound. Muscle strength and work capacity were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The groups were compared with one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni adjustment.
Results
Muscle thickness, peak torque, and work capacity were lower in ADT than in the control group (CON) (p = 0.021; p = 0.005; p <0.001, respectively). ADT showed greater echo intensity than CON (p = 0.005) and N-ADT (p = 0.046). There were no differences between N-ADT and CON in terms of muscle thickness, peak torque, work capacity, and echo intensity (p >0.05). General fatigue was greater in both ADT (p = 0.030) and N-ADT (p = 0.047) compared to CON. Physical fatigue was greater in ADT than CON (p = 0.006).
Conclusion
ADT patients showed lower levels of muscle function and greater levels of perceived fatigue than healthy control subjects. It appears that muscle function remains lower in ADT patients, even several years after treatment initiation, although this does not apply to non-ADT patients. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic Studies - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.
Prostatic neoplasms; Fatigue; Muscle strength; Physical fitness
