Health-related quality of life and its influencing factors among lung cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the level of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of lung cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and analyze its influencing factors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted. From April 2022 to March 2023, 560 lung cancer patients receiving ICIs at three medical bases in Guangzhou, China were recruited using a convenient sampling method. A general information questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) were used for collecting data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, HRQOL, social support and medical coping mode. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe HRQOL. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine the factors influencing HRQOL.

Results

For lung cancer patients receiving ICIs, the mean score of HRQOL was 59.21 ± 19.86. Multivariate analysis indicated that acceptance-resignation coping mode (β = −0.37, P < 0.01), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (β = −0.35, P < 0.01), combination of chemotherapy and/or bevacizumab (β = −0.14, P < 0.01), and subjective support (β = 0.07, P = 0.04) all contributed to 42.7% of the variance in HRQOL of the patients receiving ICIs.

Conclusions

It is imperative to address and resolve the HRQOL issue for lung cancer patients receiving ICIs. The findings suggest nurse practitioners should be aware of a variety of factors that influence HRQOL and provide tailored inventions to patients as early as possible to help them achieve better HRQOL.