title: Quality of life and symptom burden among long-term lung cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information is limited regarding health-related quality of life (QOL) status of long-term (greater than 5 years) lung cancer survivors (LTLCS). Obtaining knowledge about their QOL changes over time is a critical step toward improving poor and maintaining good QOL. The primary aim of this study was to conduct a 7-year longitudinal study in survivors of primary lung cancer which identified factors associated with either decline or improvement in QOL over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1997 and 2003, 447 LTLCS were identified and followed through 2007 using validated questionnaires; data on overall QOL and specific symptoms were at two periods: short-term (less than 3 years) and long-term postdiagnosis. The main analyses were of clinically significant changes (greater than 10%) and factors associated with overall QOL and symptom burden for each period and for changes over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred two (68%) underwent surgical resection only and 122 (27%) received surgical resection and radiation/chemotherapy. Recurrent or new lung malignancies were observed in 84 (19%) survivors. Significant decline or improvement in overall QOL over time were reported in 155 (35%) and 67 (15%) of 447 survivors, respectively. Among the 155 whose QOL declined, significantly worsened symptoms were fatigue (69%), pain (59%), dyspnea (58%), depressed appetite (49%), and coughing (42%). The symptom burden did not lessen among the 67 who reported improvement in overall QOL, suggesting that survivors had adapted to their compromised physical condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTLCS suffered substantial symptom burden that significantly impaired their QOL, indicating a need for targeted interventions to alleviate their symptoms.
authors: Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. yang.ping@mayo.edu
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Yang
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Cheville
authors: Jason A
authors: JA
authors: Wampfler
authors: Yolanda I
authors: YI
authors: Garces
authors: Aminah
authors: A
authors: Jatoi
authors: Matthew M
authors: MM
authors: Clark
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Cassivi
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Midthun
authors: Randolph S
authors: RS
authors: Marks
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Aubry
authors: Scott H
authors: SH
authors: Okuno
authors: Brent A
authors: BA
authors: Williams
authors: Francis C
authors: FC
authors: Nichols
authors: Victor F
authors: VF
authors: Trastek
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Sugimura
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Sarna
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Allen
authors: Claude
authors: C
authors: Deschamps
authors: Jeff A
authors: JA
authors: Sloan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors