Estimation of Survival Rates in Patients with Lung Cancer in West Azerbaijan, the Northwest of Iran

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is a fatal malignancy with high mortality and short survival time. The aim of this study was to estimate survival rates of Iranian patients with lung cancer and its associate predictive factors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 355 patients admitted to hospitals of West Azerbaijan in the year 2007. The patients were followed up by phone calls until the end of June 2014. The survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test for comparison. The Cox's proportional hazard model was used to investigate the effect of various variables on patient survival time, including age, sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance, smoking status, tumor type, tumor stage, treatment, metastasis, and blood hemoglobin concentration. Results: Of the 355 patients under study, 240 died and 115 were censored. The mean and median survival time of patients was 13 and 4.8 months, respectively. According to the results of Kaplan-Meier method, 1, 2, and 3 years survival rates were 39%, 18%, and 0.07%, respectively. Based on Cox regression analysis, the risk of death was associated with ECOG group V (1.83, 95% CI: 1 Conclusions: The survival time of the patients with lung cancer is very short. While early diagnosis may improve the life expectancy effective treatment is not available.

Risk Factors of Inability to Exist Independently Among Patients With Lung Cancer

“…The available studies show that signi cant weight loss may impair wound healing and reduce: an ability of immune system, tolerance of treatment and a quality of life [6] which naturally causes a great impairment of the functional state of the human body. We also know that metastases in the course of lung cancer are an important factor in uencing the survival time [20]. In our study people with the inability to live independently had signi cantly more often diagnosed distant metastases in the course of lung cancer than people who were not granted such a certi cate.…”

“…It is a cancer that causes signi cant suffering among patients, both physical [10][11][12][13] and mental [14][15][16][17]. Many articles describe what treatment and which factors are responsible for extending life [18][19][20] and improving quality of life [21][22][23][24]. However, the authors of this article noticed that it is hardly to nd studies about the factors causing the inability to live independently in the course of lung cancer.…”

Lung Cancer Prevalence in Iran by Histologic Subtypes

“…[ 10 ] It may be due to higher risk of incidence of LC in Isfahan province. Another reasoning would be appeared when one considers survival rate of LC in Iran,[ 7 ] this prevalence is possible if only incidence rate had been more than 25 per 100,000, which is not plausible incidence estimate of LC in Iran.…”

“…Despite of the absence of a national population-based cancer registry, there is a limited body of evidence on national or subnational LC incidence, mortality and survival,[ 2 3 4 5 6 7 ] but incidence, mortality and survival statistics, even based on a representative timely national registry, could not provide adequate information for policymaking regarding cancer survivor population and its medical and social needs. [ 8 ] As we know, there is no national report on the LC prevalence in Iran but only two regional reports from Kerman and Isfahan.…”

Knowledge about Colorectal Cancer in Northern Iran: a Population-Based Telephone Survey

“…Previous medical history , family history of GI diseases and history of screening tests such as Pap smear, mammography and colonoscopy were also recorded. In addition, the participants were asked to name of the three top causes for cancer mortality in Iran which are Gastrointestinal, Lung and breast cancers (Abazari et al, 2014).…”