Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life Improvements Following Strength-Based Resistance Training in Older Adults with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: ADRENALINE Case Report

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients often experience decreased quality of life due to low daily living activities, increased infection risk, and treatment uncertainties, particularly during the "watch-and-wait" phase. Interventions are needed to mitigate these effects. Aims This study, as part of the ADENALINE trial, evaluates the impact of a 16-week individualized resistance training program on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among treatment-naive CLL patients. Methods The trial included 11 patients aged 45–80 years with confirmed CLL, randomized into a resistance exercise (REx, n = 4) group or usual care control (CG, n = 7). Health-related Quality of Life outcomes were assessed using the FACIT-F and EORTC QLQ-30/CLL17 questionnaires to evaluate well-being and quality of life changes. Results Results indicated significant improvements in functional well-being and physical functioning for the REx group compared to controls, although emotional well-being improvements were not statistically significant. Notable trends in general quality of life also favored the resistance training group. Conclusions The study underscores the potential benefits of strength-based training for enhancing specific HRQOL aspects in CLL patients, providing insights for future exercise protocols. While results show promise for improving quality of life before treatment onset, larger trials are needed to validate findings and explore long-term effects to optimize exercise interventions for this population. Trial Registration: This study is registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06396611).