Patient-reported symptom burden and quality of life in advanced lung cancer.

Abstract

e16570 Background: The main objective of our study was to assess patient reported symptom burden and impact on quality of life in advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the United States. Methods: Patients with advanced (stage IIIB/IV) NSCLC (N=450) were recruited with informed consent in a nationwide (US) lung cancer study from Oct-Dec 2011. Patient reported symptoms were assessed using the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) on a 0-100 visual analogue scale and included six symptoms: fatigue, appetite loss, shortness of breath, cough, pain and blood in sputum. An average symptom burden index was calculated. Quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Lung (FACT-L).Higher scores indicate higher symptom severity on the LCSS and better quality of life on the FACT-L. Correlation between the total FACT-L score and LCSS symptom burden index was assessed. A multivariate regression analysis was performed with FACT-L total score as the dependent variable and LCSS symptom scores as predictors controlling for age, gender, stage and performance status. Results: Majority of the patients were male (59%), Caucasian (74%), smokers/ex-smokers (78%) with an average age of 64 years. Proportion of patients reporting each lung cancer symptom was: Fatigue (100%), loss of appetite (97%), shortness of breath (95%), cough (93%), pain (92%) and blood in sputum (63%). The average (SD) symptom burden index was 42.3 (21.5).The mean± SD severity scores on symptoms were: fatigue (53.2±24.7), loss of appetite (48.1±25.8), cough (48.4±29.9), shortness of breath (44.7± 27), pain (39.7± 28.1) and blood in sputum (18.4±23.6). The average (SD) FACT-L score was 71.7 (25.3). A significant negative correlation was found between the LCSS symptom burden index and FACT-L scores (ρ= -0.82; p<0.001). Loss of appetite (β=-0.204; p<0.001), cough (β= -0.145; p<0.01), pain (β=-0.265; p<0.001), shortness of breath (β = -0.145; p<0.01), age (β= 0.217; p<0.05) and performance status (β = 0.283; p<0.001) were found to be significant predictors of quality of life. Conclusions: Cough, pain, shortness of breath and loss of appetite contribute to symptom burden and have a significant negative impact on quality of life in advanced NSCLC patients.