PMU31 ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INFECTION AND MORTALITY AMONG HOSPITALIZED LUNG CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of death in the United States among older people. Cancer and cancer treatments increase the vulnerability of patients to acquire a bacterial infection due to immunosuppression. These infections may complicate the patient’s condition and result in death. Age, gender, race, and comorbidities may also influence these complications. The aim of this study was to explore the risk of infections among hospitalized lung cancer patients and the association between mortality and infection. Data were obtained from the NIS 2009-2014 datafiles. Patients ≥ 50 years old were included in the study. ICD-9 codes were used to identify hospitalized patients with lung cancer, infection, and to calculate the Charlson Comorbidity Score (CCI). Descriptive statistics were used to identify the characteristics of the study population. Logistic regressions were used to explore the association between mortality, infection, and risk factors (age, gender, race, and CCI). Of the 22,368 identified hospitalized lung cancer patients, 990 had a secondary diagnosis of infection. Among the study population, 3,181 died during hospitalization, 140 were in patients that acquired an infection. The average age among patients with infection was 70.92±10.11 years compared to 71.15±10.08 years in patients without infection. logistic regression showed that females had a 26% higher risk of acquiring an infection among lung cancer patients after adjusting for age and race. Patients that had a CCI score ≥ 4 were more likely to acquire an infection (OR= 1.62; 95% CI [1.33-1.97]). Regarding mortality, there was no association between infection and death after controlling for risk factors. Older patients and males had higher risk of death, while patients with greater CCI scores, Blacks, and Hispanics had lower risk of death. Providers may consider risk factors among hospitalized patients to prevent acquiring infections and decrease mortality rates.