Increased Skeletal Muscle Fat in Patients With Haematological Cancer Is Associated With Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Abstract

Background: Patients with haematological cancer often exhibit reduced cardiorespiratory fitness and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying this impairment are multifactorial, but the contribution of skeletal muscle fat infiltration has not been evaluated. This study aimed to compare thigh skeletal muscle fat fraction (SMFF) in patients with haematological cancer to healthy controls and to assess the contribution of SMFF to cardiorespiratory fitness in this cohort. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients with haematological cancer (n = 70, 61% male, age: 51 ± 16 years) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 70, 61% male, age: 50 ± 15..