Effect of Pulmonary Functions on Survival in Patients with Operable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prognostic importance of pulmonary functions and their effect on survival in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who underwent surgical resection and/or received medical treatment. Study Design: Cohort study.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between June 2013 and March 2020.

Methodology: The study included a total of 70 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), comprising 35 who underwent surgical treatment and 35 who were treated medically. The effects of age, gender, additional comorbidities, smoking status, complications after surgery and/or radiotherapy, and pulmonary function test values on survival were investigated.

Results: The median overall survival time of the patients was 1973 +/- 769.1 (466-3.480) days. According to the univariate Cox regression analysis, the preoperative and postoperative values of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second were not important risk factors affecting survival (p=0.752 and p=0.878) respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in survival probability between the patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD) (p=0.005). There was also a statistically significant difference between the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance groups in terms of survival probability (p<0.001).

Conclusion: There was no relationship between pulmonary functions and survival in patients with operable NSCLC, but this evaluation should be undertaken in larger patient groups. This study demonstrated the importance of patients' performance status and comorbidities, such as CAD in survival.