Chemotherapy and quality of life in NSCLC PS 2 patients

Figures & data

Table I.  Patient characteristics at baseline.

Characteristic	PS 0/1		PS 2 n%
	n = 309 (72%)		n = 123 (28%)
	n	%	n	%	p
Age, years
Median	67		67
Range	37–86		40–84		0.25
Age ≥ 75	62	20	25	20	0.52
Sex
Female	120	39	48	39	0.97
Male	189	61	75	61
Extent of disease
St IIIB	87	28	38	31
St IV	222	72	85	69	0.57
Histology
Squamous cell carcinoma	79	26	31	25
Adenocarcinoma	155	50	54	44	0.25
Large cell carcinoma	20	7	10	8
Other	55	17	28	22

Table II.  Completion of Chemotherapy according to Performance Status.

Courses	PS 0/1		PS 2
	n	%	n	%	p
3	264	85	83	68	<0.01
2	26	8	12	10	0.39
1	17	6	24	20	<0.01
0	2	1	4	3	0.06

Figure 1.  Compliance of Quality of Life Questionnaires during the period of interest.

Figure 2.  Mean HRQOL scores at baseline. Panel A: Functioning scales. A high function score represents good function. Panel B: Symptom scales. A high symptom score represents more symptoms. *p < 0.01.

Table III.  Standardized Area under Curve According to Performance Status for the HRQOL items.

Outcome	PS 0/1		PS 2
	n	SAUC*	n	SAUC*	p
Function
Global QOL	276	−1.9	93	2.5	0.05
Physical function	278	−5.6	94	−4.4	0.46
Role function	278	−8.0	94	−3.5	0.12
Emotional function	277	3.1	94	2.7	0.81
Social function	277	−5.5	94	−3.9	0.52
Cognitive function	277	−1.8	94	0.1	0.29
Symptoms
Fatigue	278	5.6	94	−1.3	<0.01
Pain C30	278	−1.5	94	−6.7	0.03
Chest pain LC13	275	2.0	94	−3.1	0.02
Arm/shoulder pain LC13	277	1.2	94	−4.3	0.03
Pain elsewhere LC13	274	1.5	91	0.4	0.70
Dyspnea C30	278	0.6	93	−6.7	<0.01
Dyspnea LC13	276	2.2	94	−0.8	0.16
Swallowing problems	277	1.3	94	−0.1	0.51
Cough	277	−7.3	94	−9.1	0.50
Hemoptysis	278	−0.4	94	−1.4	0.42
Nausea/vomiting	278	4.2	94	3.2	0.60
Insomnia	278	−1.5	94	−9.7	<0.01
Sore mouth	277	5.5	93	5.3	0.94
Neuropathy	275	3.2	94	5.8	0.22
Hair loss	276	6.5	94	6.8	0.89
Appetite loss	278	3.9	94	−2.9	0.03
Constipation	273	13.0	94	9.9	0.32
Diarrhea	278	−1.6	94	−1.0	0.77

*SAUC is Area under Curve pr week during the period of interest. A positive SAUC indicates improved function or more symptoms. Oppositely, a negative SAUC represents worsened function or improvement in symptoms.

Table IV.  Health related Quality of Life Responses according to Performance Status

	PS 0/1				PS 2
	%				%
	Improved	Stable	n	Worse	Improved	Stable	n	Worse	p
Function
Global QOL	276	32	24	44	93	48	13	39	<0,01
Physical function	278	20	26	54	94	27	20	53	0,26
Role function	278	26	15	59	94	38	20	42	0,01
Emotional function	277	35	40	25	94	37	32	31	0,29
Social function	277	31	19	50	94	34	17	49	0,80
Cognitive function	277	26	33	41	94	39	18	43	<0,01
Symptoms
Fatigue	278	32	11	57	94	48	8	44	0,03
Pain C30	278	36	29	35	94	48	20	32	0,09
Chest pain LC13	275	20	45	35	94	32	42	26	0,06
Arm/shoulder pain LC13	277	21	50	29	94	30	39	31	0,12
Pain elsewhere LC13	274	26	39	35	91	32	34	34	0,50
Dyspnea C30	278	29	35	36	93	54	20	26	<0,01
Dyspnea LC13	276	32	17	51	94	44	13	43	0,10
Swallowing problems	277	10	68	22	94	17	54	29	0,04
Cough	277	45	37	18	94	45	30	25	0,26
Hemoptysis	278	8	81	11	94	10	80	10	0,76
Nausea/vomiting	278	19	38	43	94	29	30	41	0,13
Insomnia	278	34	37	29	94	43	39	19	0,11
Sore mouth	277	9	57	34	93	9	60	31	0,87
Neuropathy	275	13	57	30	94	9	52	39	0,20
Hair loss	276	6	59	35	94	6	57	37	0,93
Appetite loss	278	26	36	38	94	40	26	34	0,02
Constipation	273	15	29	56	94	22	29	49	0,23
Diarrhea	278	25	53	22	94	20	56	24	0,66