Influence of age and predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s on prognosis following complete resection for non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate age of the patient at the time of surgery and estimated postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) as predictors of long-term survival following complete resection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Records of patients operated on for NSCLC between January 1994 and December 1997 were reviewed. One hundred and ninety three patients who underwent complete pathological resection and survived surgery were included for study. Patients were divided in groups depending on age at the time of surgery and predicted postoperative FEV1% calculated according to the number of resected segments. Values of the 75th percentile of age (70.29 years) and 50th percentile of predicted FEV1% (52.9) were the cut-points selected for group division. To increase the power of the analysis pathological staging was also converted in a binary variable and resumed to localized (stage I) or extended (stage II-IIIB). Univariate analysis of the effect of each variable on survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Relationship between variables was investigated using 2x2 tables and Fisher's exact test. Unrelated variables (extension, age and low estimated postoperative FEV1%) entered in a Cox-regression model to predict long-term survival following resection.

Results: Pathological stage (P<0.0001), age (P=0.01) and low estimated postoperative FEV1% (P=0.0007) showed independent value to predict the outcome.

Conclusion: Advanced age and low predicted postoperative FEV1% play an adverse effect on survival of completely resected NSCLC.