Risk factors for acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease following lung cancer resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) following lung cancer resection. METHODS: We performed a literature screening on the databases including PubMed, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE(®) and the Web of Science for related studies published up to January 2021. Eligible studies were included and data on risk factors related to postoperative AE were extracted. All analyses were performed with random-effect model. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies of 2655 lung cancer patients with ILD were included in this article. The meta-analysis indicated that male [odds ratios (ORs) = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–3.11, P = 0.041], usually interstitial pneumonia pattern on CT (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.06–2.17, P = 0.021), Krebs von den Lungen-6 [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.06–0.94, P = 0.027], white blood cell (SMD = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.12–0.93, P = 0.010), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.04–0.90, P = 0.032), partial pressure of oxygen (weighted mean difference = −3.09, 95% CI: −5.99 to −0.19, P = 0.037), surgery procedure (OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.42–3.77, P < 0.001) and operation time (weighted mean difference = 28.26, 95% CI: 1.13–55.39, P = 0.041) were risk factors for AE of ILD following lung cancer resection. CONCLUSIONS: We found that males, usually interstitial pneumonia pattern on CT, higher levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6, lactate dehydrogenase, white blood cell, lower partial pressure of oxygen, greater scope of operation and longer operation time were risk factors for AE of ILD following lung cancer resection. Patients with these risk factors should be more prudently selected for surgical treatment and be monitored more carefully after surgery.