Table 1 Study characteristics by case–control status

Age category

20- <40 years

109

1.0

199

1.4

40- <50 years

934

8.2

1,287

9.1

50- <60 years

3,040

26.6

3,597

25.4

60- <70 years

4,657

40.7

5,809

41.1

70- <80 years

2,616

22.9

3,210

22.7

≥80 years

77

0.7

45

0.3

Age [years]

Median (interquartile range)

Smoking status

Non-smoker

279

2.4

3,506

24.8

Former smoker

3,957

34.6

6,321

44.7

Current smoker

7,051

61.7

3,950

27.9

Other types of tobacco only

146

1.3

370

2.6

Cumulative tobacco consumption [pack-years] in former and current smokers

Median (interquartile range)

Educational level

<6 years

2,210

19.3

1,857

13.1

6–9 years

5,689

49.8

5,994

42.4

10–13 years

2,295

20.1

3,718

26.3

University degree

1,239

10.8

2,578

18.2

List A occupation

Never

9,808

85.8

12,878

91.0

Ever

1,625

14.2

1,269

9.0

Blue/White collar worker

Blue collar

6,284

55.0

5,828

41.2

White collar

3,803

33.3

6,751

47.7

Mixed blue/white collar

1,346

11.8

1,568

11.1

Last residence

Urban (≥10,000 inhabit.)

7,389

64.6

9,004

63.6

Rural (<10,000 inhabit.)

1,816

15.9

1,849

13.1

Missing

2,228

19.5

3,294

23.3

Time-weighted average occupational social prestige

High (>45- 78 points)

2,215

19.4

4,592

32.5

Medium (>35- ≤45 points)

3,980

34.8

4,854

34.3

Low (13- ≤35 points)

5,238

45.8

4,701

33.2

Histological lung cancer subtype

Squamous cell cancer

4,875

42.6

Small cell lung cancer

1,843

16.1

Adenocarcinoma

2,818

24.6

Other or mixed

1,825

16.0

Missing

72

0.6