Analysis of the Clinicopathological Characteristics and Risk Factors in Patients with Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and risk factors in patients with lung cancer and COPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 282 patients with lung cancer, including 174 and 108 patients with and without COPD, respectively. Information on age, sex, smoking status, and histologic type was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Lung cancer patients with COPD and those with the chronic bronchitis (CB) phenotype had higher smoking indices compared to those without COPD (723.95 ± 631.48 and 920.95 ± 712.93 versus 418.40 ± 506.84; P = 0.010; P = 0.001, resp.), and current smokers accounted for significantly higher proportions of lung cancer patients with COPD and the CB phenotype versus without COPD (51.15% and 63.74% versus 35.19%; P = 0.009; P = 0.001, resp.). Adenocarcinoma was significantly more common in lung cancer patients without versus with COPD (48.15% versus 35.63%; P = 0.037), whereas small cell lung cancer was more common in patients with COPD (23.56% versus 13.89%). Among patients with COPD, male sex (odds ratio [OR], 19.946; P < 0.001), current smokers (OR: 6.588; P = 0.001), and age ≥ 75 years (OR: 2.670; P = 0.008) were identified as high-risk factors. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for COPD among lung cancer patients were age ≥ 75 years, current smokers with the CB phenotype, and male sex.