Quality of Life, Muscle Strength, and Fatigue Perception in Patients on Suppressive Therapy With Levothyroxine for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

The SCH patients had worse muscle function, regarding HS (25.19 ± 7.00 vs. 30.45 ± 9.98 kgf in EU, P = 0.009) and functional capacity of the shoulder (41.28 ± 48.36 vs. 56.68 ± 37.44 s in EU, P = 0.004). The self-perception of fatigue by Chalder questionnaire (23.91 ± 5.39 vs. 29.77 ± 7.03, P = 0.000) and the QoL in terms of functional capacity (70.20 ± 21.57 vs. 56.25 ± 28.79, P = 0.025), physical aspects (71.42 ± 36.44 vs. 45.83 ± 42.88, P = 0.004), pain (62.48 ± 22.20 vs. 50.05 ± 24.80, P = 0.035), and emotional aspects (70.74 ± 38.26 vs. 46.29 ± 44.56, P = 0.008) were also worse in SCH. In conclusion, the SCH was associated with alterations in the QoL, reduction in the muscle function of upper limbs, and higher degree of fatigue.