Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea level, and exercise capacity (BODE) index on predicting the postoperative complications of lung resections and compare this effect with spirometry and maximal oxygen uptake in patients with lung cancer accompanied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the indication of lung resection.

Methods: A total of 33 patients (30 males, 3 females; mean age 60.4±9.5 years; range 32 to 76 years) who were performed lung resection at our clinic between April 2012 and April 2013 were included in the study. Spirometry and stair climbing test were performed in all patients and their BODE index and maximal oxygen uptake values were calculated preoperatively. The patients were divided into four groups by their BODE index: Group 0 (BODE index= 0, n=8), group 1 (BODE index= 1, n =14), g roup 2 (BODE index= 2, n=7) and group 3 (BODE index= 3 or 4, n=4).

Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics, exercise capacity, and operation types (p>0.05). BODE index was significantly correlated with all spirometric values (r= –0.36/–0.58), many complications (r=0.49/0.50), time to intubation, and durations of intensive care unit and hospital stays (r=0.34/0.40, p<0.05). Maximal oxygen uptake was not correlated with any of these parameters (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our study indicates that the BODE index is superior in the prediction of postoperative complications of lung resections in patients with obstructive airway symptoms when compared with spirometric test and maximal oxygen uptake results and advises that the BODE index should be routinely used in clinical practice.

Keywords : Airflow obstruction, body mass index, dyspnea level, and exercise capacity index; lung cancer surgery; maximal oxygen uptake; postoperative care; spirometry