Can life satisfaction be considered a predictor of quality of life in patients with lung cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between satisfaction with life and Quality of Life (QoL) in lung cancer patients, and to analyze the correlations of selected variables with QoL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 250 patients with lung cancer were enrolled into the study, with a mean age of 63.2 +/- 9.4, and who were treated at the Regional Lung Hospital in Poland between January and June 2019. 110 patients (43.9%) were moderately satisfied with their life (18-23 points from SWLS). 72 (28.8%) had a high level of satisfaction, and 68 (27.2%) had a low level of satisfaction with life. RESULTS: Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life had a better QoL (p<0.001) and experienced less severe symptoms, with the exception of constipation, haemoptoe, soreness in the mouth, dysphagia, hair loss, and pain in the arms. Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life have a significantly lower intensity of behaviors associated with anxious preoccupation (p<0.001) and helplessness/hopelessness (p<0.001). Destructive coping styles increase as satisfaction with life decreases (p<0.001). Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life were more accepting of their illness (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients being treated for lung cancer have a moderate level of satisfaction with life. QoL is associated with satisfaction with life and increases depending on the level of satisfaction. Symptoms are less severe when patients are more satisfied with their life. Satisfaction with life was associated with acceptance of the illness and coping strategies. Not smoking, chest pain, time from diagnosis, performance status, and symptomatic treatment adversely affected satisfaction with life. Conversely, a lack of family history of cancer positively affected satisfaction with life.