Clinical Scorecard: The Frequency and Contributing Factors of Pulmonary Infections in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Pulmonary infections occurred in 58.3% of ICI-treated patients with infections.
• Diabetes mellitus significantly increased infection risk (OR = 3.61).
• Infection rates in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs ranged from 19.2% to 27%.
• Mortality rates increased from 10.7% to 40% with rising infection frequency.
• Concurrent thoracic radiotherapy elevates the risk of infections.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Monitor for clinical and microbiological signs of pulmonary infections in ICI-treated patients.

Management

• Consider immunosuppressive interventions for severe immune-related adverse events.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regular follow-up for infection signs post-ICI treatment, especially in high-risk populations.

Risks

• Increased susceptibility to infections independent of immunosuppressive therapy.

Patient & Prescribing Data

107 lung cancer patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Infection group (n=44) included patients with pulmonary infections treated with anti-infective drugs.

Clinical Best Practices

• Implement preventive strategies for infections in patients receiving ICIs.
• Conduct thorough assessments of comorbidities such as diabetes and COPD.

References

• Study on infection rates in melanoma patients receiving ICIs
• French study on infections in ICI-treated patients
• Analysis of NSCLC patients receiving nivolumab or pembrolizumab