Comparison of quality of life of patients on treatment with cisplatin and gemcitabine, carboplatin and gemcitabine, carboplatin and paclitaxel, carboplatin and pemetrexed for non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer is a fatal disease associated with high morbidity. It is important to evaluate the effects of treatment on patient's quality of life. Quality of life can be assessed by using EORTC QLQ - C30 and EORTC QLQ - LC 13. Eighty-six patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into four arms as follows: Patients in arm 1 received cisplatin 80 mg/m 2 and gemcitabine 1.25 g/m 2 as infusion separately in isotonic normal saline. Arm 2 received carboplatin 300 mg/m 2 and gemcitabine 1.2 mg/m 2 as infusion separately in 5% dextrose injection. Arm 3 received paclitaxel 100 mg/m 2 as infusion in isotonic normal saline and carboplatin 300 mg/m 2 as infusion in 5% dextrose injection. Arm 4 received pemetrexed 500 mg/m 2 as infusion in isotonic normal saline and carboplatin 300 mg/m 2 as infusion in 5% dextrose injection. The quality of life of the enrolled patients is based on EORTC QLQ - C30 and EORTC QLQ - LC 13 questionnaire. Prevalence of non-small cell lung cancer is more in males, 60–70 years of age. Most of the subjects were from rural areas and had only school-level education. The prevalence of non-small cell lung cancer was more with smokers, ex-smokers and patients with multiple social habits. Comorbidities also increase the risk of non-small cell lung cancer. By analyzing EORTC QLQ - C30 and EORTC QLQ - LC 13 questionnaires, it was found that diarrhea was found to be significant between the groups. Global health status and quality of life are distributed equally among each group. Quality of life and global health status are distributed equally among each sub groups.