Background: To assess quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced lung cancer.
Patients and methods: A prospective study of 78 patients cared at home and at a palliative care unit (PCU) with 2 QOL assessments was conducted.
Results: Fifty patients completed the study. In the EORTC QLQ-C30 role, cognitive, social functioning, global QOL, fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and appetite deteriorated; nausea/vomiting improved; dyspnea was more intense in the case of in-home patients. In the EORTC QLQ-LC13 hemoptysis improved; pain in other parts was more intense in the PCU patients. Pain (Visual Analogue scale) was more intense in the PCU patients; the level of activity (Karnofsky) decreased in the case of patients treated at home.
Conclusions: QOL deteriorated with few differences between home and the PCU patients.