Table 1

Participant characteristics

DiagnosisLung cancer
N=17
Other conditions* N=18Interview study
N=35
SYMPTOM Lung study
N=963
Location (England)
 East8816
 North East91019
Sex
 Female6915 (42.9%)441 (45.8%)
 Male11920 (57.1%)522 (54.2%)
Age mean years (range)69 (57–83)61 (41–88)65 (41–88)66 (40–95)
Ethnicity
 White171633 (94.3%)931 (96.7%)
 Other22 (5.7%)32 (3.3%)
Smoking
 Current smoker549 (25.7%)115 (12.2%)
 Ex-smoker10616 (45.7%)517 (54.8%)
 Never smoked2810 (28.6%)311 (33.0%)
 Education
  Up to higher education101323 (65.7%)655 (68.0%)
  Higher education or equivalent7512 (34.3%)308 (32.0%)
Employment†
 In employment268 (23.5%)274 (30.4%)
 Disabled or unemployed246 (17.6%)56 (6.2%)
 Retired12820 (58.8%)570 (63.3%)
IMD quintile‡
 Least deprived 15611 (31.4%)317 (32.9%)
 2437 (20%)216 (22.4%)
 3235 (14.3%)160 (16.6%)
 4246 (17.1%)126 (13.1%)
 Most deprived 5426 (17.1%)143 (14.9%)
Number of GP appointments§
 19716
 2 or more61016
Type of referral to specialist services¶
 Urgent (2WW)14822
 Routine088
Comorbidities
 Respiratory
  COPD134
  Other lung conditions145
 Other
  Previous cancer**213
  Diabetes314
  Heart disease448
  Arthritis3710
  Anxiety/depression325
  IBS224
  • *Other conditions: pneumonia (3), COPD (2), asthma (1), pleurisy (1), fibrosis asbestosis (1), eosinophilic bronchitis (1), allergic rhinitis (1), acid reflux (1), calcified lung lesion (1), weight gain (1), post-infection sensitivity (1), nil abnormal found (3) and unreported (1).

  • †Missing data interview study n=1: questionnaire study n=63.

  • ‡The IMD is a key data set on deprivation. The Indices measure levels of deprivation across seven distinct domains: Income Deprivation, Employment Deprivation, Health Deprivation and Disability, Education Skills and Training Deprivation, Barriers to Housing and Services, Living Environment Deprivation and Crime.

  • §Three participants referred following MRI or CT for other conditions.

  • ¶5 Missing: missing data=3; referred through secondary care hospitals to tertiary centres=2.

  • **Previous cancer sites: kidney (1) and bowel (2).

  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GP, general practitioner; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IMD, Index of Multiple Deprivation.