Associations Between Postoperative Symptom Clusters and Functional Status in Lung Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Yali Liu,1,&ast; Siya Lin,2,&ast; Meirong Bai,1 Huochun Yi3 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361004, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, People’s Republic of China; 3Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361004, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Meirong Bai, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 201 hubin South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, 361004, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Huochun Yi, Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 201 hubin South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, 361004, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Symptom clusters in cancer symptom management research, providing a scientific basis for developing effective strategies for symptom assessment and intervention aimed at improving patient quality of life and survival.Objective: To analyze symptom clusters in postoperative lung cancer patients, examine its influenced factor, and explore the relationship between postoperative symptom clusters and functional status in lung cancer patients.Methods: Between August 2023 and February 2024, 441 lung cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at a tertiary hospital in Xiamen were selected. Data collection included a general information questionnaire, the Postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Scale for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPSS). Latent class analysis was employed to categorize the self-reported outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed on the relevant factors.Results: The self-reported postoperative symptoms in lung cancer patients were divided into two groups: high-symptom burden and low-symptom burden. Significant differences were observed between these groups concerning surgery duration, kinesiophobia score, personality traits, KPSS, and the use of analgesic pumps (P < 0.005). After adjusting for sex, age, lifestyle, and health status, a multi-model approach confirmed a significant inverse relationship between higher KPSS levels and higher symptom burden (P < 0.001). High-symptom levels are negatively associated with functional status (P < 0.005).Conclusion: Postoperative symptom clusters in lung cancer patients can be specifically categorized into high and low-symptom burdens. Surgery duration, kinesiophobia scores, personality traits, KPSS, and the use of analgesic pumps are significant risk factors affecting symptom burden. Postoperative symptom cluster assessment provides a scientific basis for developing effective management strategies, which may improve functional recovery and long-term outcomes in lung cancer patients.Keywords: symptom clusters, functional status, lung cancer

Keywords

• Symptom Clusters
• Functional Status
• Lung Cancer