Quality of Life in patients with lung cancer after endobronchial intervention for malignant central airway obstruction

Abstract

<b>Introduction and Aim:</b> Patients with malignant central airway obstruction (mCAO) may need endobronchial intervention for symptoms relief but also to manage atelectasis and consequent respiratory failure. We herein aimed to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with lung cancer after endobronchial intervention for malignant central airway obstruction. <b>Methods:</b> Over an 18-month period, 29 patients with symptomatic malignant central airway obstruction were enrolled in order to re-establish airway patency. QoL and dyspnea were evaluated by the EORTC -C30 and EORTC -LC13 Questionnaire before the intervention, 1 week after and every following month until first relapse or death. <b>Results:</b> Overall, 44.8% of patients (n=13) had poor performance status (PS ≥3) and 51.7% (n=15) of patients had stage IV disease. QoL improved significantly from the first week up to the 6th month (p&lt;0.05). Global Health Questionnaire improved from 29.6 (Standard deviation=19.2) to 70.8 (SD=30.5) (p&lt;0.05) on week 24. Dyspnea accessed with EORTC-LC13 questionnaire decreased from 73.2 (SD=29.2) to 23.6 (SD=26) (p&lt;0.05) on week 24. Benefits were independent of tumor histology or history of post-obstructive pneumonia. Mean time until first relapse was 21.2 weeks (SD=20.5) (n=6 patients) and time until death was 15.1 weeks (SD=7.9) (n=16 patents). <b>Conclusions:</b> Interventional management of patients with mCAO results in sustained significant improvement of QoL and decrease of shortness of breath and should be considered as an essential component of a multidisciplinary approach.