Does lung cancer in patients with COPD differ between women and men?

Background: The incidence rates of COPD and lung cancer among women are increasing, approaching or equalling those among men, while among men are stable or slightly decreasing. The prognosis in lung cancer complicated by COPD is very poor, thus it is an emerging problem. The aim of this study was a comparison of women with men with COPD and lung cancer. Material and Methods: It was retrospective study- the demographic and clinical data of patients diagnosed with lung tumors between years 2016-2022 were analysed. The diagnosis of lung cancer and COPD was established accordingly to current recommendations. Results: Of consecutively selected524 patients with lung cancer in 180 COPD was recognized. There were 83 (46.1%) women and 97 (53.9%) men in this group. There were no statistically significant differences in age, packyears, severity of COPD, histological types and stage of cancer, or survival rate, between men and women. A mean age of women was 69.95, of men 70.69. 57.5% of women was active smokers, 42.5% ex-smokers and no never smokers (in men 59.76%, 39.02%, 1.22%). Median packyears in both groups was 50. FEV1 was >80% in 12.9%, 50-80% in 46.8%, 30-50% in 38.7%, <30% in 1.6% of women, in men consecutively: 7.4%, 64.7%, 25.0%, 2.9%. Cancer stage was similar in both groups, in women: I - 5,26%, II - 4,21%, III – 51,58%, IV – 54,41%, and in men: I – 6.1%, II – 2.44%, III – 53.66%, IV – 37.8%. Histological types of lung cancer in women were as follow: SCLC – 15.56%, ADC – 12.22%, SCC – 11.11%, NOS – 3.89%, other – 3.33%, in men retrospectively: 13.89%, 13.33%, 18.33%, 6.67%, 1.67%. Conclusions: COPD in women with lung cancer was found to be an equally important problem as in men and it requires more attention.