Sociodemographic and Clinical Determinants of Quality of Life of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a serious health problem. Identifying factors affecting quality of life (QoL) may help modify risk factors and improve survival. The study included 180 patients treated for NSCLC in the Lower Silesian Center of Lung Diseases between January and December 2015. QoL was assessed with QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13 scales. General physical functioning was measured with the ECOG Performance Status scale. The clinical and sociodemographic data were retrieved from medical records. The influence of clinical and sociodemographic factors on QoL was examined. NSCLC reduced the global QoL (47.1 ± 23.4) and emotional functioning (57.8 ± 28.8); cognitive functioning was affected in least (76.0 ± 21.0). The patients reported fatigue (42.2 ± 26.2), sleep problems (42.0 ± 30.8), cough (49.8 ± 24.0), and taking analgesics (50.3 ± 37.1) as the most limiting factors. The worsening of a health condition expressed by the length of malignant disease; the presence of comorbidities, metastases, the cluster of symptoms, worse spirometric indices, and living alone had a negative influence on QoL. In conclusion, patients with NSCLC experience reduced QoL and emotional functioning. Proper treatment of comorbidities and symptom management may improve QoL in these patients.

Keywords: Cognitive functioning; NSCLC; Performance status; Physical functioning; Quality of life; Socioeconomic factors.