301P - Oxygen desaturation during 6-min walk test: Implications for postoperative complications in non-small cell lung cancer patients with impaired lung function

Background

This study aimed to investigate the clinical implications of desaturation during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with moderately decreased lung function.

Methods

Between January 2010 and December 2019, 312 patients whose predicted postoperative value of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ppoFEV₁) or diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (ppoDLco) were <60% while both were ≥ 30% and who had undergone lobectomy for NSCLC without induction treatment were included this study. Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence of oxygen desaturation (SpO2 <90%) during the 6MWT, and the prevalence and risk of cardiopulmonary complications were evaluated.

Results

Overall, 39 (12.5%) patients desaturated during the 6MWT. The prevalence of cardiopulmonary complications (48.7%, p = 0.007) and pulmonary complications (33.3%, p = 0.017) was significantly higher in patients who desaturated during the 6MWT than in those who did not. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative cardiac complications between the two groups. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, the adjusted odds ratio for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in patients who desaturated during the 6MWT was 2.34 (95% confidence interval = 1.16–4.75) compared to those who did not.

Conclusions

Oxygen desaturation during the 6MWT significantly increased the risk of post-lobectomy cardiopulmonary complications among lung cancer patients with moderately decreased lung function. Our study suggests that oxygen desaturation during the 6WMT could provide additional information when stratifying the postoperative surgical risks in NSCLC patients.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.