[Clinical care characteristics and factors associated with in-hospital mortality for lung cancer in Spain].

Background And Objective: Lung cancer causes high morbimortality in Spain and is currently experiencing a significant increase in women. The aim of this study was to describe differential clinical and health care characteristics by sex, as well as factors associated with and geographic differences of in-hospital mortality.

Material And Method: Descriptive study of episodes registered in the National Hospital Discharge Minimum Basic Data Set for admission type and gender in 2005. Two logistic regression models by sex were built in order to explain the individual influence of variables on in-hospital mortality. Using predictive values of the models, standardized mortality rates were calculated to study the variation between Spanish regions.

Results: Women presented a lower mean age, smoking habit and in-hospital mortality than men. However, women presented more adenocarcinomas, greater care in high volume centers, more surgery in readmissions and were subjected to chemotherapy more often in new admissions than men. Adenocarcinoma in men and no specific location in women were associated with higher mortality. Smoking habit and lung diagnosis procedures in men, and middle lobe location and bronchoscopy in women were associated with lower mortality. The geographical mortality pattern detected was similar in both sexes only in some regions of Spain.

Conclusions: Differential clinical characteristics, health care and overall results appear to exist depending on individuals' gender. Recognition of these differences are crucial in order to improve the effectiveness and equity of our health care system.