Objective: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has high degree of malignance and proneness to recurrence and metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyse the risk factors influencing the chemotherapy compliance and survival status of elderly NSCLC patients.

Methods: The clinical data of 110 patients admitted from January 2014 to March 2018 were retrospectively analysed. They were assigned to non-chemotherapy (n=25), partial chemotherapy (n=30) and complete chemotherapy (n=55) groups according to chemotherapy compliance, and followed up until March 2021. Their clinicopathological characteristics were investigated by univariate analysis and then multivariate Cox regression analysis. The survival rates were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test.

Results: Among the 110 NSCLC patients, 25 did not receive chemotherapy, 30 underwent partial chemotherapy and 55 received complete chemotherapy. Educational level, pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, pathological type, surgical approach, place of residence, payment mode and chemotherapy stage were independent risk factors influencing the chemotherapy compliance (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Particular attention should be paid to improving the chemotherapy compliance of patients with low educational level, late TNM stage, medical history of squamous cell carcinoma, history of thoracotomy, living in rural areas and no medical insurance, and those in the recurrence period or consolidation period of chemotherapy.

Keywords: Chemotherapy compliance; elderly; non-small cell lung cancer; risk factor; survival analysis.