Factors affecting survival in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Background Lung cancer mortality is high all over the globe. A total of three million deaths are expected to be reached in 2035. There is a rising effort nationally for cancer data documentation and networking. This study is in line with this effort. Purpose This study aimed at assessment of the survival of patients with lung cancer in the regional locality and assessing factors affecting mortality in the studied population. Patients and methods This retrospective study included patients with lung cancer who were diagnosed and received treatment in the Oncology Department, Sohag University Hospital and Sohag Oncology Institute during the period from January 2016 to June 2019. The available data in patients’ records were collected, and it included medical history, clinical finding, diagnostic and metastatic workup, treatment, and follow-up for outcome. Results A total of 160 patients were enrolled in this study. Their median survival time was 1.21 year. Nonsmall-cell lung carcinoma, squamous subtype, showed higher 3-year survival (35.67%) than other histopathological subtype. Earlier tumor stage, stage II B, showed better survival than more advanced stages. Presence of positive local signs, current smoking status, and poorly differentiated tumor were significant risk factors for mortality in final multivariate analysis. Conclusion The study documented bad prognosis of lung cancer in our regional locality. It emphasized the worse prognosis for advanced stage of tumor and confirmed the role of smoking not only in development of lung cancer but also as mortality risk factor, which highlights the importance of smoking cessation programs to be initiated with focus on public awareness about it.