Background:

Lung cancer is currently the most common cancer type in China, causing significant societal burden.

Objective:

The objective of the literature review was to summarize the humanistic burden of lung cancer in China and identify existing data gaps for future research.

Method:

A systematic literature review was conducted. Studies reporting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) values associated with lung cancer were included. Two databases (EMBASE and MEDLINE) were searched. The search strategies utilized a combination of disease and HRQoL indexed terms and free texts. The searches were limited to studies relevant to China and published since 2015.

Results:

Overall, 443 references were searched, and 45 references were included. Nineteen were interventional studies, and 26 were observational studies. The most common data sources were interviews and surveys. Global or overall HRQoL score (n = 37) was reported most often, with fewer reporting individual domains of the HRQoL instruments. Results indicated that HRQoL was negatively impacted in lung cancer patients compared to the general cancer population in both the global score and most domains. Overall, the domains measuring physical functioning, role functioning, and social functioning were mostly impacted. Results on emotional and cognitive functioning were inconclusive. The impact on HRQoL may be higher in lung cancer patients who were treatment naïve or in advanced stages, compared to those who had received treatments or in early stages. The most frequently used patient-reported outcomes were the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Fact-G cancer instruments, and their relevant lung cancer specific modules the EORTC QLQ-LC13 (or -LC43 [Chinese version]) and Fact-L.

Conclusion:

The humanistic burden of lung cancer is substantial in China. More reporting using standardized methods and at a granular level is suggested to achieve more robust conclusions. Additionally, future studies could investigate humanistic burden by the type of lung cancer.