Comorbid conditions associated with worse lung cancer survival

Lung cancer patients with comorbid conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, or congestive heart failure have a higher risk of death than lung cancer patients without comorbid conditions. The prevalence of these comorbidities is higher in older lung cancer patients than patients who are younger. As the population of the United States ages, there will be a higher number of lung cancer patients with comorbidities at diagnosis. An estimated 74 percent of patients have one or more comorbidities. More than 50 percent of those with comorbidities had pulmonary disease, while 16 percent had diabetes, and 13 percent had congestive heart failure.

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