Abstract
Lung cancer is a major health concern worldwide. A rise in smoking incidence amongst both genders, increased exposure to air pollutants and unhealthy lifestyle choices steadily contribute to this global situation. Our aim was to assess the main characteristics of this type of cancer through a retrospective analysis at a major referral center. We selected valid and complete electronic medical records of patients admitted between 2017 and 2020 at the Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, one of the largest hospitals in Romania and a major referral center for the region of Oltenia. We obtained ethical approval from both the hospital and the University and analyzed anonymized records by ICD-10 diagnostic code, extracting gender and age data, as well as associated conditions, length of stay, as well as the medical departments where the patient was hospitalized. Our results showed an increased incidence amongst men, with the majority of cases between 50 and 70 years of age. Median hospitalization period was of 6 days, with higher values for oncology and the lowest in thoracic surgery. Distant metastases, pleurisy and hemoptysis were the most prevalent comorbidities encountered. In conclusion, our study presents important data on the main characteristics of lung cancer patients in Romania.