The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Body Composition Measures and Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) substantially affects daily living and quality of life, but objective CRF measures remain limited. This review aimed to identify the correlation between muscle strength and body composition measures and CRF, as well as potential objective indicators for assessing CRF. LITERATURE SEARCH: PubMed®, MEDLINE®, CINAHL®/PsycINFO®, and Embase® were searched for studies published from January 2000 to January 2021. DATA EVALUATION: Study selection and quality assessment were conducted using the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme checklist and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used to perform meta-analysis. SYNTHESIS: 25 studies were selected, and 19 measures were analyzed. CRF negatively correlated with hand grip strength, knee extensor strength, and the sit-to-stand test. No significant correlation was found between body composition measures and CRF. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The evidence suggests that muscle strength measures may be potential indicators for CRF assessment. Combining objective and subjective CRF assessments could assist clinicians in evaluating the effectiveness of CRF interventions more accurately.