Background: In this study we analyzed the relationship between quality of life and respiratory functions, functional capacity in patients who underwent pulmonary resection.

Methods: In this prospective study we included 90 patients (76 males, 14 females; mean age 58.7±9.59 years; range 47 to 79 years) who underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer. Quality of life questionnaire (Short Form-36 Health Survey SF-36), respiratory function tests, arterial blood gas measurements and 6-minute walk test were performed before and six months after the surgery.

Results: Significant improvements were found at 6 months after the surgery in the “physical functioning” (p<0.001) and “functional physical role difficulty” (p<0.001) values. The values for social functioning (p=0.03), mental health (p=0.04), vitality scores (p=0.04), respiratory function tests (p<0.001), arterial blood gases (p<0.001) and 6-minute walk test (p<0.001) were significantly lower at postoperative 6th month when compared to the preoperative values.

Conclusion: It was observed that, although functional and respiratory capacities decreased, improvements may occur in some items of quality of life questionnaire after resection for lung cancer.

Keywords : Lung cancer; Short Form-36; surgical treatment