title: The effect of smoking cessation on quality of life after lung cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking status on quality of life (QoL) after non-small-cell lung cancer surgery with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL Questionnaire-C30 and LC13.
  
  
  METHODS
  QoL was prospectively recorded in 70 consecutive patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Questionnaires were administered preoperatively and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (MPO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all patients analysed, nine (13%) were non-smokers, 20 (29%) former smokers, six (8%) recent quitters and 35 (50%) current smokers. All four groups had comparable patients' characteristics and preoperative QoL scores, with exception of non-smokers who had significantly lower physical functioning, role functioning, cognitive functioning and a higher thoracic pain burden. In non-smokers, all QoL scores returned to baseline 3 months after surgery. Former smokers complained of a significant 3-month decrease in physical functioning (3 MPO, p = 0.01) and a 12-month decrease in role functioning (12 MPO, p = 0.01). Former smokers complained of a significant increase in dyspnoea (6 MPO, p = 0.001) during the first 6 months after surgery. Recent quitters had a longer impairment in physical functioning (6 MPO, p = 0.01) and a 3-month burden of dyspnoea (3 MPO, p=0.02). In current smokers, no return to baseline in physical (12 MPO, p = 0.01), role (12 MPO, p = 0.01) and social functioning (12 MPO, p = 0.02) and a persistent increase in dyspnoea (12 MPO, p = 0.04) were reported. Current smokers also complained of increased thoracic pain (12 MPO, p = 0.02). Except non-smokers, all patients complained of fatigue the first 3 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking cessation is beneficial at any time point to lung cancer surgery and current smoking at the time of surgery is associated with a poor postoperative QoL.
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium. bram_sam@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balduyck
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sardari Nia
authors.forename: Anouschka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cogen
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dockx
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lauwers
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Schil
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*