Objective To explore the factors that influence the prognosis of elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer（ NSCLC）. Methods The clinical data of 600 elderly NSCLC patients aged 65 years or older and treated by traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） in Longhua Hospital

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was reviewed to establish a case report form and to collect patient information

Patient’s survival rates of 1

2

3

5 year and the median survival（ MST） were calculated

and the patient information was analyzed by single factor analysis. Factors that were meaningful by single factor analysis were included in the COX regression model for multivariate analysis

and factors affecting the prognosis of elderly NSCLC were screened. Results MST of 600 elderly patients with NSCLC was 26. 80 months（ 0. 53 months to 192. 40 months）

and the MST of phase Ⅰ

Ⅱ

ⅢA and ⅢB-Ⅳpatients were 103. 00 months

82. 00 months

71. 27 months and 20. 77 months respectively. Survival rates of 1

2

3

and 5 years were 74. 13%

53. 75%

40. 02% and 26. 77% respectively. Single factor analysis showed that smoking history

pathological type

clinical stage

PS score

TCM syndrome type

surgery

chemotherapy

treatment courses of TCM intravenous preparation and duration of TCM treatment were prognostic factors. Multi-factor analysis showed that PS score

surgery

duration of TCM treatment were independent protective factors affecting the prognosis of elderly patients with NSCLC. Conclusion Surgical treatment is an important means to prolong the survival of elderly patients with NSCLC. The lower the PS score at diagnosis

the longer the survival period. The longer the duration of TCM treatment

the longer the patients will survival.