Sarcopenic Obesity (SO) is associated with worse survival among chemotherapy recipients. Research on SO is scarce among lymphoma patients receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

assess prevalence of SO pre-HSCT (T0) and 3 months post-HSCT (T1) in lymphoma patients and determine the power of SO at T0 and T1 in predicting survival.

Consecutive patients (age ≥16 years) having B and T cell lymphoma who underwent SCT and who had PET/CT scan pre-SCT and 3 months post SCT were included in the study. A cross sectional image was analyzed at the level of the 3rd Lumber Vertebrae to assess body composition parameters.

93 patients [mean age: 38 (range: 17–70 years), 52 (55.9%) males, 45 (48%) Hodgkin and 48 (52%) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 81 (87%) autologous and 12 (13%) allogeneic SCT)] met the inclusion criteria. From T0 to T1, Sarcopenia rates increased (27% at T0 to 38% at T1, p = 0.013), Visceral adiposity decreased (46% at T0 to 30% at T1, p = 0.03) and SO decreased (42% at T0 to 20% at T1, p < 0.01). Length of stay, overall survival and progression free survival were significantly better in patients without sarcopenic obesity at T1. Cox-regression revealed SO at T1 was a risk factor for mortality [Adjusted Hazards Ratio = 8.2 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.9–36.2)].

Sarcopenic obesity, prevalent in 42% of patients pre-HSCT, decreased 3 months post HSCT as lymphoma patients lost skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissues. SO at T1 was the most impactful risk factor for mortality.