Prevalence of function-limiting late effects in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is highly curable, but survivors often develop function-limiting impairments. Screening guidelines for neuromuscular and musculoskeletal late effects are not as well recognized across medical disciplines. Early identification and management of functional late effects are instrumental in improving the longitudinal care of HL survivors.

Objective: To define the prevalence of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, visceral, oncologic, and other late effects affecting function and quality of life (QOL) in HL survivors.

Design: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Outpatient cancer rehabilitation clinic.

Participants: One hundred HL survivors.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, visceral, oncologic, and other late effects contributing to functional impairment and disability in HL survivors.

Results: Among the 100 HL survivors, 43% received chemotherapy, 94% radiation therapy, and 38% a combination of chemo-radiation for their initial cancer treatment. Nearly all HL survivors were diagnosed with myelopathy (83%), radiculoplexopathy (93%), mononeuropathy (95%), and localized myopathy (93%). Musculoskeletal sequelae included dropped head syndrome (83%), cervicalgia (79%), shoulder girdle dysfunction (73%), and dysphagia (42%). Visceral disorders included cardiovascular (70%), pulmonary (44%), endocrine (63%), gastrointestinal (29%), and genitourinary (11%) dysfunction. Lymphedema affected 21% of survivors and 30% had a history of a secondary malignancy. Pain (71%), fatigue (45%), and dyspnea (43%) were major function-limiting impairments. Nearly all (95%) of survivors were referred to at least one therapy discipline including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and/or lymphedema therapy.

Conclusion: Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, visceral, oncologic, and other late effects are extremely common in HL survivors seeking physiatric evaluation. Multiple function-limiting disorders can coexist in HL survivors with the potential to severely compromise function and QOL. Safe and effective rehabilitation may depend on the physiatrist's ability to identify, evaluate, and manage the multitude of complex and often interrelated functional late effects seen in HL survivors.