Aerobic exercise to minimise cardiovascular disease risk in lymphoma survivors - The LYMfit multicenter randomized controlled trial

Lymphoma treatment includes high doses of chemotherapy potentially toxic to the heart.

There is a two to three-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among lymphoma survivors compared to the general population.

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the effect of aerobic exercise to minimise CVD risk in lymphoma survivors, are warranted.

There is also a need to investigate how previous exposure to cardiotoxic cancer treatment interferes with normal ageing and adaptation to aerobic exercise.The primary aim of this multicentre RCT is to compare the effect of aerobic exercise versus control on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) in lymphoma survivors, and to compare the change in VO2peak following an exercise intervention between lymphoma survivors and a non-cancer reference group.

A total of 200 adult-onset lymphoma survivors and 100 healthy controls will be recruited at two sites; Uppsala (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway). This application only concerns financing of the Swedish study site. Participants randomized to intervention group will conduct 5 months of supervised aerobic exercise.

Baseline and follow-up assessments will include VO2peak, cardiovascular risk factor screening, determinants of fitness (e.g. lung function) and patient-reported outcomes (e.g. fatigue).

The results from this study will increase awareness regarding the effects and mechanisms of exercise on cardiotoxic late effects following cancer treatments for lymphoma survivors.