Comorbidity in operable lung cancer: a multicenter descriptive study on 2992 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the frequency of diseases associated (comorbidity) with operable lung cancer (LC) globally, in relation to the presence of neoplastic clinical symptoms and age.


METHODS
Prospective; multi-institutional of 19 Spanish hospitals.


METHODS
Two thousand nine hundred and ninety two consecutive cases of LC, treated surgically by the Bronchogenic Carcinoma Co-operative Group of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (GCCB-S) between 1993 and 1997, are analysed.


METHODS
At time of treatment, data on the presence or absence of different specific comorbidities in all consecutive patients operated on for LC were entered on identical forms at all hospitals of the GCCB-S.


RESULTS
In 2189 patients (73%) there was one or several comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], systemic arterial hypertension, previous tumour, cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease or diabetes). Fifty percent of the LC was associated to COPD; in 32% of these patients with COPD, preoperative measurement of FEV1 was 70% below the theoretical value. In comparing the cases with symptoms ascribable to LC, it was found that in asymptomatic patients the presence of a previous tumour, arterial hypertension or cardiac disease was significantly more frequent. Conversely, in symptomatic patients, COPD was significantly more frequent. The frequency of all evaluated comorbidities is significantly higher in the older age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In this multicenter study encompassing 2992 patients with operable LC, a high frequency of comorbidity has been found, COPD occurring most frequently. Certain diseases are more prevalent in asymptomatic patients, probably due to a screening bias. In older patients, there was a significant increase of all comorbidities.
López-Encuentra
Angel
A
Pneumology Service, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Ctta. Andalucía 5.4, 28041 Madrid, Spain. lencuent@h12o.es
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*