BACKGROUNDTo determine the value of preoperative cardiopulmonary risk index (CPRI) in predicting the short-term prognosis after lung resection in patients with lung cancer.

METHODSPreoperative clinical data were used to generate a cardiac risk index (CRI) and a pulmonary risk index (PRI). And the value of cardiopulmonary risk index (CPRI) consisting of CRI and PRI in predicting postoperative prognosis was estimated in patients who underwent lung resection at Shanghai Chest Hospital in 1999.

RESULTSA total of 625 consecutive patients were studied. Postoperative complications occurred in 49 patients (7.8%), including 8 deaths within 30 days of operation. In the total group, CRI, PRI and CPRI scores ranged from 1 to 3, 0 to 5 and 1 to 7, respectively. There were 489 patients with CPRI < 4, and 136 with CPRI≥4. Using CPRI≥4 as a threshold for predicting postoperative complications, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate were 75.5%, 82.8% and 82.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe preoperative CPRI is one of the important indexes in predicting the short-term postoperative prognosis for patients with lung cancer. However, it can not completely predict all of postoperative risks, and should be used together with other factors.