In a retrospective study, patients without a social support network had a shorter survival rate than those with support.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to be a significant health issue and is a leading cause of death in many countries. Although there are promising new treatments available for certain types of lung cancer, managing the side effects and daily difficulties can be challenging. This is where the support of family members becomes crucial.
Previous research has shown that older adults with cancer often rely heavily on their family and friends for assistance with daily activities and coping with treatment side effects. In this retrospective analysis, published in the journal Cureus, researchers investigated the impact of having a strong support network, or "kin," on the survival rates of patients with advanced NSCLC.
Study Participants
This study evaluated data for 144 patients. Out of these, 120 (89.6%) underwent treatment, while 24 (10.4%) chose best supportive care (BSC). Among the treated patients, 61 (42.4%) received a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy. There was a subgroup of 13 patients who lacked familial support, referred to as "kinless."
Kinless Patients Had Significantly Lower Survival Rates
Patients with kin support had a median survival of 1.34 years (95% CI: 1.01–1.79) and a 1-year survival rate of 59.3% (95% CI: 50.2–67.2%). In contrast, kinless patients had a median survival of just 0.53 years (95% CI: 0.23–0.76) and a 1-year survival rate of 11.5% (95% CI: 0.9–37.5%), which was significantly lower than those with kin, as indicated by log-rank analysis.
Lack of Social Support Tied to Poorer Survival
Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses identified age, distant metastasis, performance status, and lack of kin as significant predictors of survival. These factors were crucial for patients with advanced NSCLC and either wild-type or unknown epidermal growth factor receptor/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EGFR/ALK) status.
Treatment Decisions and Kinship
Logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between patient background factors and the choice of BSC. While BSC was more common in patients with distant metastases, the lack of kin did not statistically influence the decision to opt for BSC.
Clinical Course of Kinless Patients
An in-depth analysis of the 13 kinless patients showed that most received chemotherapy, with six choosing regimens that included immune checkpoint inhibitors. Four patients underwent chemotherapy for more than 6 months. Except for two, all kinless patients passed away without receiving secondary treatments beyond consolidation therapy.
Source:
Omura, A., Nojiri, T., & Higashiyama, M. (2024). The impact of kinlessness on survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a Single-Center retrospective study. Curēus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.57820
