Psychological distress in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Impact on targeted therapy and quality of life

Table 1 Comparison of demographic characteristics and clinical data of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the Distress Thermometer group and non-Distress Thermometer group

Characteristic	Non-DT (n = 71)	DT (n = 72)	χ2/t/Z	P value
Age, mean ± SD	58.93 ± 10.09	62.31 ± 12.56	1.77	0.079
Sex			0.010	0.921
Male	29	30
Female	42	42
Education			0.408	0.945
Illiteracy	23	20
Primary school	22	23
Middle school	23	26
University	3	3
Method of pathological materials			3.326	0.190
Lung puncture	40	30
Bronchoscope	22	32
Other	9	10
Tumor stage			4.004	0.135
Stage III	12	5
Stage IVA	27	26
Stage IVB	32	41
Mutations			1.709	0.425
EGFR 19	28	32
EGFR 21	26	29
ALK	17	11
Methods of targeted therapy			1.304	0.861
Targeted therapy (MONO)	22	17
Targeted therapy + CO	34	37
Targeted therapy + CO + RO	8	8
Targeted therapy + RO	4	6
Targeted therapy + AO	3	4
Targeted therapy drugs			3.910	0.418
1 TKI	34	36
2 TKI	9	8
3 TKI	11	18
1 ALK inhibitor	5	4
2 ALK inhibitor	12	6
Karnofsky Performance Status			1.572	0.210
80	32	40
90	39	32

DT: Distress Thermometer; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; ALK: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase; MONO: Monotherapy; CO: Chemotherapy; RO: Radiotherapy; AO: Anti-angiogenic therapy; TKI: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Table 2 Comparison of the efficacy of targeted-therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the Distress Thermometer group and non-Distress Thermometer group

Efficacy outcome	Group		χ2	P value
	DT (n = 72)	Non-DT (n = 71)
CR	0	0	23.304	< 0.001
PR	29	56
SD	34	14
PD	9	1

CR: Complete response; PR: Partial response; SD: Stable disease; PD: Progressive disease.

Table 3 Comparison of the efficacy of targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients in the psychological distress group and no psychological distress group

Efficacy outcome	Group		χ2	P value
	DT (n = 37)	Non-DT (n = 34)
CR	0	0	16.711	< 0.001
PR	14	29
SD	18	4
PD	5	1

CR: Complete response; PR: Partial response; SD: Stable disease; PD: Progressive disease.

Table 4 Influence of Distress Thermometer on quality of life of non-small cell lung cancer patients during targeted therapy, mean ± SD

Quality of life	Group		t	P value
	DT (n = 72)	Non-DT (n = 71)
EORTC QLQ-C30 score (per 10 points) 1	79.53 ± 10.91	87.85 ± 6.92	-5.454	< 0.001
EORTC QLQ-C30 score (per 10 points) 2	75.59 ± 11.57	89.25 ± 6.89	-8.599	< 0.001

DT: Distress Thermometer; EORTC QLQ-C30: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30.

Table 5 Adverse events of the patient receiving treatment, n (%)

Adverse event	Group
	DT (n = 72)	Non-DT (n = 71)
Rash	9 (12.5)	7 (9.86)
Diarrhea	9 (12.5)	10 (14.08)
Thrombocytopenia	5 (6.94)	8 (11.27)
Aminotransferase rise	11 (15.28)	16 (22.54)
Stomatitis	3 (4.17)	3 (4.23)
Vomiting	11 (15.28)	8 (11.27)
Pneumonitis	1 (1.39)	1 (1.41)
Sinus bradycardia	2 (2.78)	2 (2.82)
Paronychia	1 (1.39)	1 (1.41)
Others	0 (0.00)	2 (2.82)

DT: Distress Thermometer.