Effect of chemotherapy on nutritional status and quality of life in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of chemotherapy on nutritional status and quality of life in elderly patients aged 60 years and over with stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ non-small-cell lung cancer,who were unable to undergo molecular-targeted drug therapy according to genetic testing.Methods A total of 100 elderly patients with stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer were randomized into an observation group(n=50)and a control group(n=50).Patients in the observation group were treated with GP regimen(gemcitabine+ cisplatin),while patients in the control group were treated with TP regimen(paclitaxel+cisplatin).The scores of nutritionally relevant indicators and quality of life were compared between the two groups.Results After chemotherapy,the body weight,body mass index,plasma total protein,plasma albumin,and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower in the GP regimen group than in the TP regimen group(P＜0.0001,P =0.0027,P =0.0305,P＜0.0001,P＜ 0.0001,respectively).The overall health status score,physical function,role function,and emotional function scores were higher in the GP group than in the TP group(P =0.0017,0.0044,0.0064,0.006,respectively) after chemotherapy.The scores of shortness of breath,insomnia,loss of appetite,constipation,and diarrhea were significantly lower in the GP group than in the TP group(P =0.0067,P ＜0.0001,P =0.0026,P =0.0066,P =0.0023).The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in GP regimen than in TP regimen(56.0％ vs 30.0％,x2 =6.90,P=0.009).The incidence of grade Ⅰ adverse reactions was higher in the observation group (54.0％,27/50 cases),and the incidences of grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ adverse reactions were higher in the control group(36.0％,18/50 cases;24.0％,12/50 cases;and 24.0％,12/50 cases,respectively) (x2 =16.40,P =0.001).Conclusions The TP chemotherapy is more beneficial to patients' nutrition,while the GP chemotherapy can achieve both higher clinical efficacy and better quality of life.