Prognostic factors in elderly patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The number of elderly patients with lung cancel is rapidly increasing and their management is an important issue. Patients and Methods: 109 patients aged over 75 years with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer were assessed to define the prognostic factors. The median age was 80 years in a range of 76 to 95 The overall median survival time was 6.3 months. Fifty-one patients underwent chemotherapy and/or thoracic radiotherapy whilst the others received best supportive care. Results: Multivariate Cox regression model showed performance status (PS) (p=0.0063) and stage of disease (p=0.0158) to be independent prognostic factors for survival. In seventy-six patients with a good PS of 0-1, choice of treatment (p=0.0225) and hyponatremia (p=0.0302) were the predictors for survival. Conclusions: PS, treatment and serum sodium level were important factors for survival, and most patients with good PS were able to undergo the treatment and have a good outcome.