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J. Salo



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    P2.07 - Poster Session 2 - Surgery (ID 190)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Poster Session
    • Track: Surgery
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.07-001 - Long-Term Lung Cancer Survivors Have Permanently Decreased Quality of Life Following Surgery (ID 123)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): J. Salo

      • Abstract

      Background
      Long term health related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients operated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been extensively studied, as most studies has end-point within 24 months following surgery. Endpoints ike progression-free survival and overall survival, postoperative HRQoL could be more important to the patient.

      Methods
      A total of 586 patients were operated for NSCLC in the Department of Cardiothoracic surgery of the Helsinki University Hospital between January 2000 and June 2009. Two validated quality of life "questionnaires, the 15D and the EORTC QLQ-C30 with its lung cancer specific module QLQ-LC13, were sent to patients alive in June 2011. Results of the 15D were compared with those of an age- and gender-standardized general population. Patient and treatment features predicting higher or lower long-term HRQoL were identified.

      Results
      Of the 276 patients who were sent the questionnaires, 230 (83.33%) answered. The median follow-up time was 4.85 years. When compared with the general population (picture), our patient group had significantly lower scores in the 15D total score, representing the total HRQoL of the patients, and in the dimensions Mobility, Breathing, Usual activities, Depression, Distress and Vitality. The patient group scored significantly higher in the dimensions Hearing and Mental function. Features predicting lower long-term HRQoL were comorbidity, measured with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), post-operative complications and pre-operative FEV~1~% 70% of the predicted value. Adjuvant-therapy was observed to predict higher long-term HRQoL.Figure 1

      Conclusion
      NSCLC patients suffer from permanently reduced long-term HRQoL compared to the age- and gender-matched normal population. Factors associated with reduced HRQoL were presence of comorbidity, postoperative complications and reduced FEV1-status preoperatively. The occurrence of complications was also associated with a significantly reduced survival rate. Adjuvant-therapy was associated with a higher HRQoL. Age and gender were not associated with significant differences in the total 15D-score or the QLQ-C30 global health score.