title: Quality of life following lobectomy or bilobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer, a two-year prospective follow-up study.
abstract: Surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but only a few published studies evaluate the long-term HRQoL and its association with preoperative pulmonary function tests (PFTs). We conducted a prospective study, with 53 patients undergoing lobectomy (n=49) or bilobectomy (n=4) for NSCLC, between May 2002 and September 2005. The 15D HRQoL instrument was administered preoperatively, and 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Preoperative PFTs were recorded. We also compared the preoperative HRQoL results to an age-standardized general population. The two-year survival was 81%, 43/53 patients. Sustained impairment of HRQoL was noted two years after the surgery. No correlation emerged between preoperative PFTs and postoperative HRQoL. No differences were observed between stages I-II and stage III patients. Thus, lobectomy and bilobectomy are associated with significant sustained decrease especially in breathing, sleeping, usual activities, mental function, vitality and sexual activity, and in the overall HRQoL. These findings maybe used as preoperative patient information to emphasize the long-term consequences of lung cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilkka K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Ilonen
authors.forename: Jari V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Räsänen
authors.forename: Aija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuuttila
authors.forename: Eero I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Sihvo
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sintonen
authors.forename: Anssi R A
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sovijärvi
authors.forename: Jarmo A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012119:Respiration; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires