Changes in Patient-Reported Quality of Life after Lobectomy versus Sublobar Resection

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate differences in patient-reported quality of life after lobectomy versus sublobar resection.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in a prospective trial evaluating recovery after thoracic surgery using wearable devices and patient-reported outcome measures. Patients who underwent elective lobectomy or sublobar resection were included. Patients wore a wearable device preoperatively to postoperative day 90 and completed the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) preoperatively and on postoperative days 30 and 90. SF-36 total, Physical Component Summary (PCS), and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores between patients who underwent lobectomy versus sublobar resection were compared at each timepoint in the overall cohort and in a propensity score-matched cohort. Changes in SF-36 scores from baseline to postoperative day 30 and 90 between patients undergoing lobectomy versus sublobar resection were compared using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models.

Results: A total of 30 patients undergoing lobectomy and 55 undergoing sublobar resection were included. In both groups, overall quality of life was significantly lower at 30-days postoperatively compared to preoperatively but recovered to baseline levels by 90-days postoperatively. There were no significant differences in quality-of-life scores preoperatively and at 30- and 90-days postoperatively between the two groups in unadjusted analysis or propensity score-matched analysis. There were also no statistically significant differences in changes in the SF-36, PCS, or MCS scores from baseline to postoperative day 30 and 90 between the two groups.

Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis, patients undergoing lobectomy and sublobar resection reported similar changes in quality of life after surgery.

Keywords: Lobectomy; Patient-Reported Outcome Measures; Quality of Life; Sublobar Resection.