PATIENTS recovering from lung cancer surgery may face prolonged hospital stays when wildfires strike, according to new research examining the effects of wildfire disasters on post-operative recovery. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 patients who underwent curative-intent lung cancer surgeries, finding that exposure to a wildfire disaster during recovery resulted in a significantly longer length of stay (LOS) compared to those who were not exposed to wildfires.
Between 2004 and 2021, individuals aged 18 and older who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy for stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer were included in the study. The data from the National Cancer Database revealed that patients treated at facilities in counties under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wildfire disaster declarations had an average hospital stay of 9.4 days. In contrast, patients at the same hospitals during non-disaster times had a shorter stay of 7.5 days. This difference in LOS was statistically significant, with the extended stay occurring across all stages of cancer surgery.
The study highlights the challenges that healthcare professionals face when managing surgical recovery during natural disasters. Without established disaster preparedness guidelines specific to surgical oncology, many surgical teams may extend patients’ hospital stays as a precautionary measure to ensure their safety and proper recovery during wildfire events. While longer hospital stays may seem to offer additional safety, the implications for post-operative quality metrics and resource utilization are significant.
These findings underscore the need for tailored disaster preparedness plans for vulnerable patient populations, including those undergoing major surgeries like lung cancer treatments. The study authors suggest further research to assess whether extended hospital stays actually improve surgical outcomes during times of disaster.
Reference: Nogueira LM et al. Facility exposure to wildfire disasters and hospital length of stay following lung cancer surgery. JCNI. 2025;djaf040.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
