[Age associated survival rate in non small cell lung cancer]. / Supervivencia en relación con la edad en cáncer pulmonar de células no pequeñas.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer. Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes 70% of cases. Clinical course and survival differ depending of age at diagnosis OBJECTIVE: Determine the epidemiology and survival rate of NSCLC associated with age of onset of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study between January 1993-January 2007 and included patients with confirmed NSCLC. Three groups were included: group 1: < 49 yrs, group 2: 50-69 yrs, group 3: > 70 yrs. Age, ECOG, comorbidity, family background, smoking, clinical stage, histology, metastatic sites, treatment and overall survival were analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive methods, Kruskall-Wallis, ANOVA, chi-2, Student's T-test and Kaplan-Meier tests. RESULTS: 183 patients, 23 (12.6%) < 49 years, 108 (59%) from group 2 and 52 cases (28.4%) > 70 yrs. Median age was: 43.2, 61.2 and 75.6 yrs (p < 0.05), respectively. The majority were women (56.4%) in group 1, p= 0.036. Comorbidity: 17.4%, 55.5% and 76.9%, p= 0.000. 52.5% smokers, 87% and 62.9%, p= 0.009. Symptoms included: cough (38.9%, 25%, 43.6%), thoracic pain (33.3%, 41.3%, 30.8%) and dyspnea (33.3%, 16.3%, 38.5%), p > 0.05. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent type (78.2%, 63.9% and 54.5%). Stage IIIB was observed among 17.4% of patients studied, 23.1%, 23.1% and stage IV 52.2%, 44.4%, 50%, respectively. Median overall survival in stages I and II was 21 months, 18 months in stage IIIA (p > 0.05). Stages IIIB-IV the median overall survival was 11, 8.5 and 4 months respectively (p= 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients displayed a more aggressive disease course yet also displayed a higher survival rate. Patients over 70 years have a higher incidence of comorbidity and ECOG 2.