Constellation, le dépôt institutionnel de l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Résumé

Abstract: Background: Patients with lung cancer (LC) often experience cachexia which cause fatigue, weight loss, muscle wasting and associated with reduced physical function. Even though, skeletal muscle is the main site of muscle depletion in these patients, little is known about thigh muscle area and function.

Aim: To assess and compare mid-thigh cross sectional muscle area (CSA) and quadriceps muscle function of patients with LC at diagnosis to healthy subjects.

Method: A computed tomography of the two legs was obtained in 11 LC patients and 6 healthy age-matched controls. CSA was calculated using standard tissue attenuation (At) range and separated into normal At (35-100HU), low At (0-34HU) and residual muscle (-1 to -29HU).Mean At was also calculated to assess muscle adiposity. Subjects performed also a quadriceps isokinetic endurance test (30 reps at 90°/sec).

Results: LC patients (Stage I-II=7;III-IV=4) and controls were matched for age (69±7yr vs 67±9yr) and BMI (27±5Kg/m2 vs 27±2 Kg/m2).Data on CSA and muscle function are shown in the table.

Conclusion: Despite similar BMI and CSA, LC patients had greater muscle adiposity accompanied with reduced muscle strength and endurance.Thus, assessing muscle function and composition may enable a more comprehensive assessment of cachexia and physical function in LC patients.