Lung cancer patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement lose affiliation with labor market at diagnosis

• Published in: Lung cancer management 2024, Vol.13 (1)
• Main Authors: Andersen, Jon Lykkegaard, Johansen, Jakob Sidenius, Urbanska, Edyta Maria, Meldgaard, Peter, Hjorth-Hansen, Peter, Kristiansen, Charlotte, Stelmach, Miroslaw, Santoni-Rugiu, Eric, Ulhøi, Maiken Parm, Højgaard, Betina, Jensen, Morten Sall, Dydensborg, Anders Bondo, Dünweber, Christina, Hansen, Karin Holmskov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALK; Brief Report; labor market affiliation; nationwide; non-small-cell lung cancer; prevalence; retrospective; return to work; Short Communication
• ISSN: 1758-1966; 1758-1974
• DOI: 10.2217/lmt-2023-0013

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the labor market affiliation of NSCLC patients in long-term treatment as well as overall survival and incidence/prevalence. Nationwide retrospective study of all patients with NSCLC in Denmark diagnosed between 2012 and 2018. During the study period NSCLC patients had a median overall survival of 44.0 months and a 7.8-fold increase in disease prevalence. Six months prior to diagnosis, 81% of NSCLC patients ≤60 years of age were employed. At the end of the 18-month follow-up period, 36% were employed. NSCLC patients have prolonged survival following diagnosis, but a large fraction of patients lose affiliation with the labor market. The purpose of this study was to examine the employment status and survival of patients with NSCLC who are undergoing long-term treatment. The researchers conducted a study analyzing data from all such patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 in Denmark. The results showed that NSCLC patients had a median overall survival of 44.0 months and a that the number of patients increased almost eightfold during the study period. Prior to diagnosis, 81% of NSCLC patients who were 60 years of age or younger were employed. However, at the end of the 18-month follow-up period, only 36% of these patients were still employed. In conclusion, NSCLC patients tend to have prolonged survival after diagnosis. However, a considerable proportion of these patients lose their affiliation with the labor market, indicating the impact of the disease on employment status. NSCLC patients have prolonged survival following diagnosis, but a large fraction of patients lose affiliation with the labor market following diagnosis. #alkpositive #lcsm.