Associations between changes in quality of life and survival after lung cancer surgery

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between changes in quality of life and survival after lung cancer surgery.

In a prospective population-based cohort study, quality of life was estimated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire before and 6 months after lung cancer surgery. Cox regression models adjusting for potential confounding factors were used to analyze the association between baseline SF-36 scores and changes in SF-36 scores and survival.

A SF-36 questionnaire was distributed to 249 patients at baseline. We excluded 79 patients with histopathology other than primary lung cancer. Six months after surgery, 11 patients died and 18 patients did not return the questionnaire, leaving 141 patients with data from both baseline and follow-up. The baseline SF-36 physical component summary score was significantly associated with survival, but the baseline mental component was not. Declines of 10% in the physical and mental component summary scores from baseline to follow-up were associated with an 18 and 13% higher risk of death, respectively.

Changes in quality of life during 6 months after surgery for lung cancer may provide prognostic information regarding survival.