Increased consultation frequency in primary care, a risk marker for cancer: a case–control study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Identification of cancer patients included in the study.

Table 1. Characteristics of the cancer patient population.

Type of cancer	Total number, n (%)	Men, n (%)	Women, n (%)	Median age at diagnosis [range] years
Breast	947 (21)	6 (1)	941 (99)	65 [29–97]
Colorectal	753 (16)	380 (50)	373 (50)	71 [31–95]
Gynaecological	327 (7)	n.a*	327	67 [30–91]
Lung	373 (8)	195 (52)	178 (48)	70 [31–94]
Malignant melanoma	459 (10)	212 (46)	247 (54)	63 [28–97]
Prostate	1257 (28)	1257	n.a*	68 [44–96]
Skin	446 (10)	222 (50)	224 (50)	79 [33–98]
All cancers included	4562 (100)	2272 (50)	2290 (50)	68 [28–98]

* n.a = non-applicable.

Table 2. Most prevalent diagnostic codes in the cancer population, ICD-10 classification.

Diagnostic codes	Prevalence	OR (95% CI)^*
N40 Hyperplasia of prostate	11.5	2.6 (2.3–3.0)
R23 Other skin changes	10.4	2.2 (2.0–2.5)
R10 Abdominal and pelvic pain	9.0	1.5 (1.3–1.7)
D48 Neoplasm of uncertain or unknown behaviour of other and unspecified sites	5.8	6.5 (5.3–7.9)
D64 Other anaemias	5.5	1.9 (1.7–2.3)
L57.0 Actinic keratosis	4.9	1.9 (1.6–2.3)
R74 Abnormal serum enzyme levels	4.2	5.7 (4.5–7.2)
N63 Unspecified lump in breast	4.2	18.5 (13.1–26.0)

OR = odds ratio calculated between cases and controls. Diagnostic codes with OR <1 are omitted. CI = confidence interval.

* p Value <0.05.

Figure 2. Symptom density: weekly diagnostic code frequency of cancer patients (red continuous line) compared to controls (black interrupted line) one year prior to cancer diagnosis.

Figure 3. Consultation frequency: weekly consultation frequency of cancer patients (red continuous line) compared to controls (black interrupted line) one year prior to cancer diagnosis.