Zhao L, et al. – This article endeavoured to examine the relationship between the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score and the survival of patients with stage IIIB–IV (advanced, non–resectable) non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who also did not have gene mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). This retrospective study suggested that the CCI score is an important prognostic factor for the prediction of overall survival in patients with stage IIIB–IV NSCLC who are negative for EGFR and ALK gene mutations.

Methods

• From 1 May 2010 to 1 October 2014, the records of one hundred sixty-five patients (28–80 y, median 61 y) who met the above criteria and were admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital Capital Medical University were reviewed.
• Relationship between baseline variables and the CCI score were surveyed by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
• Overall survival was characterized as the time from the first clinic visit to death from any cause, or to the end of follow-up.
• Survival curves were assessed by means of the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test.

Results

• According to the findings obtained, logistic regression analyses demonstrated that smoking and performance status were independently connected with the CCI score.
• It was observed in the findings that smoking was related to an increased risk of mortality (odds ratio (OR) 4.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.92–8.84) compared to non-smokers), as was performance status 2 (ambulatory, capable of self-care, unable to perform any work activities; active for >50% of waking hours) (OR 2.22 (95% CI, 1.14–4.33) compared to performance status 1).
• Univariate Cox’s regression analyses demonstrated that the hazard ratios were significantly related to the CCI score (P = 0.009), smoking (P = 0.042), and male gender (P = 0.021).