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. 2012 May 1;30(13):1498-504.
doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.33.4631. Epub 2012 Mar 26.

Relationship between deficits in overall quality of life and non-small-cell lung cancer survival

Jeff A Sloan  1 , Xinghua Zhao, Paul J Novotny, Jason Wampfler, Yolanda Garces, Matthew M Clark, Ping Yang
Affiliations

Relationship between deficits in overall quality of life and non-small-cell lung cancer survival

Jeff A Sloan et al. J Clin Oncol. .

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence has suggested a clinically meaningful relationship between self-reported quality of life (QOL) of a patient with cancer at the time of receiving a cancer diagnosis and overall survival (OS). This study evaluated the prognostic value of QOL assessments with regard to OS in a large cohort of patients with lung cancer.

Patients and methods: A total of 2,442 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer were observed between 1997 and 2007 and completed a single-item measure of overall QOL within the first 6 months of receiving a lung cancer diagnosis; these were dichotomized using an a priori definition of a clinically deficient score (CDS; ≤ 50 v > 50). Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox models were used to evaluate the prognostic importance of QOL on OS alone and in the presence of covariates. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify which clinical and patient characteristics were related to a clinically meaningful deficit in QOL.

Results: QOL deficits at time of lung cancer diagnosis were significantly associated with OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; P < .001), as were performance status, older age, smoking history, male sex, treatment factors, and stage of disease. The median survival for patients with CDS QOL was 1.6 years versus 5.6 years for patients with non-CDS QOL. After controlling for all these covariates, the indication of a clinically deficient baseline QOL still contributed significantly to the prediction of patient survival (HR, 0.67; P < .001).

Conclusion: Overall QOL measured by a simple single item at the time of lung cancer diagnosis is a significant and independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with lung cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for 2,442 patients with non–small-cell lung cancer by overall quality-of-life (QOL) categorization into clinically meaningful deficit versus no deficit.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Kaplan-Meier survival curves by first quality-of-life (QOL) assessment adjusted for age, sex, treatment, and smoking status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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