Risk Factors of Inability to Exist Independently Among Patients With Lung Cancer

Abstract Background: This study examined risk factors of the inability to live independently among people with lung cancer. Methods: This paper involved 134 men and women who wanted to get a certificate of the inability to an independent existence issued by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). The study protocol was approved by the Commission of Bioethics. The analysis of the results was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 program. Results: In the analyzed period, 75% of people obtained a certificate of the inability to an independent existence (group A) and 25% did not (group B). In group A 56.4% of people were men, and in group B 42.4%. In group A 11.8% of people were diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, no such case was found in group B. Metastases were revealed in 83.2% of applicants from group A while in 57.6% from group B. Statistically significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and a lower sum of points in the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (BI) were found in group A compared to group B. Conclusions: In the authors’ opinion, information on BMI, histopathological diagnosis and the presence of metastases are useful in assessing the risk of being unable to live independently in people with lung cancer. BI seems to be helpful in assessing the inability to live independently.