Health professionals and the early detection of head and neck cancers: a population-based study in a high incidence area

Table 1 Patient and tumour characteristics and univariate analysis of tumour stage at diagnosis

	Stage I-II^a		Stage III-IV^a		p univariate	Total
	N	%	N	%		N	%
Sex					0.209
Male	75	27.5	198	72.5		278	81.3
Female	22	35.5	40	64.5		64	18.7
Age at diagnosis					0.220
< 55 years	32	27.6	84	72.4		119	34.8
55–65 years	33	25.4	97	74.6		130	38.0
> =65 years	32	36.0	57	64.0		93	27.2
Charlson Index					0.290
0	14	35.0	26	65.0		41	12.0
1 to 2	42	25.1	125	74.9		169	49.4
3 and over	41	32.0	87	68.0		132	38.6
Département					0.531
Calvados	16	23.5	52	76.5		69	20.2
Manche	15	31.3	33	68.8		48	14.0
ZPL	43	32.6	89	67.4		135	39.5
Somme	23	26.4	64	73.6		90	26.3
Tumour site					<0.001
Oral cavity	44	36.7	76	63.3		124	36.3
Oropharynx	13	15.3	72	84.7		85	24.8
Hypopharynx	4	6.5	58	93.5		63	18.4
Larynx	36	52.9	32	47.1		70	20.5
Deprivation quintile^b					0.065
Privileged 1	14	32.6	29	67.4		43	12.6
Quite privileged 2	11	23.9	35	76.1		47	13.8
Quite underprivileged 3	18	47.4	20	52.6		40	11.8
Underprivileged 4	22	30.6	50	69.4		74	21.8
Very underprivileged 5	32	23.9	102	76.1		136	40.0
GP consultation					0.110
No	9	19.1	38	80.9		48	14.0
Yes	88	30.6	200	69.4		294	86.0
GP consultation (in 3 categories)					0.071
No consultation	9	19.1	38	80.9		48	14.0
1 to 2 consultations	14	22.2	49	77.8		64	18.7
> =3 consultations	74	32.9	151	67.1		230	67.3
Dentist consultation					0.029
No	70	26.2	197	73.8		270	79.9
Yes	27	39.7	41	60.3		72	21.1
Specialist consultation, non-ENT					0.131
No	45	25.4	132	74.6		181	52.9
Yes	52	32.9	106	67.1		161	47.1
ENT specialist consultation					0.002
No	71	25.4	208	74.6		286	83.6
Yes	26	46.4	30	53.6		56	16.4
Nurse consultation					0.646
No	54	27.0	139	73.0		195	57.0
Yes	43	30.3	99	69.7		147	43.0

^afor seven patients stage at diagnosis was unknown
^bfor two patients the quintile of deprivation was unknown
Abbreviations: ZPL area around Lille, GP general practitioner, ENT ear, nose and throat

ISSN: 1471-2407