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Table 1 Participant Characteristics

From: Does quality of life among breast cancer survivors one year after diagnosis differ depending on urban and non-urban residence? A comparative study

Characteristics

Urban general populationa(n = 675)

Urban breast cancer survivorsb (n = 277)

Non-urban general populationa (n = 465)

Non-urban breast cancer survivors (n = 323)

 

n

%

n

%

n

%

n

%

Demographic characteristics

        

Age (years)

   

*

    

   <50

298

57.0

99

30.0

185

55.6

107

33.1

   50+

377

43.0

178

70.0

280

44.4

216

66.9

Marital status

   

*

   

†

   Married, or living as married

520

77.6

186

66.6

361

80.1

248

76.8

   Not married

155

22.4

91

33.4

104

19.9

75

23.2

Education level

   

*

   

*

   Grade 10 or below

219

30.2

125

46.5

186

37.0

173

53.6

   Grade 12/Trade/TAFE

278

42.5

95

33.7

183

40.7

102

31.6

   University or college degree

178

27.3

57

19.9

96

22.3

48

14.9

Private health insurance status

   

*

   

†

   Yes

398

58.0

200

72.4

222

48.5

140

43.3

   No

277

42.0

77

27.6

243

51.5

183

56.7

General health characteristics

        

Smoking status

        

   Never smoked

364

53.6

163

59.3

250

52.9

184

57.0

   Past smoker

216

31.2

84

30.0

149

31.7

102

31.6

   Current smoker

95

15.2

30

10.7

66

15.3

37

11.5

Physical activityc

       

*

   Sedentary

94

17.5

34

12.6

81

13.7

68

21.1

   Insufficient activity

194

27.9

67

23.9

125

29.4

55

17.0

   Sufficient activity

387

54.6

176

63.5

259

57.0

200

61.9

Body mass index (kg/m2)

   

*

   

†

   Underweight/Normal (up to 24.9)

335

41.5

108

38.5

183

50.7

116

35.9

   Overweight (25-29.9)

203

27.4

80

29.0

134

29.6

91

28.2

   Obese (30+)

106

25.1

55

20.0

119

14.9

100

31.0

   Missing

31

6.0

34

12.5

29

4.7

16

5.0

Number of co-morbiditiesd

   

*

   

*†

   None

126

21.6

68

23.8

84

21.4

55

17.0

   One

158

19.0

68

23.7

79

24.7

74

22.9

   Two

133

19.7

69

25.6

95

19.2

79

24.5

   Three or more

258

39.6

72

27.0

206

34.7

115

35.6

Clinical characteristics

        

Adjuvant treatment

-

-

  

-

-

 

†

   None

  

42

15.8

  

59

18.3

   Chemotherapy only

  

34

11.3

  

33

10.2

   Radiotherapy only

  

119

43.8

  

105

32.5

   Both

  

82

29.1

  

126

39.0

Number of complicationse

-

-

  

-

-

 

†

   None

  

54

19.7

  

133

41.2

   Yes, one to four

  

223

80.3

  

190

58.8

  1. Abbreviations:
  2. * Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the general population and breast cancer survivors by place of location.
  3. † Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between urban and non-urban breast cancer survivors.
  4. Notes:
  5. (a) Column percentages are standardized to the 2003 Queensland population by age.
  6. (b) Column percentages have been weighted to correct for sampling.
  7. (c) 'Sedentary' is defined as no activity; 'Insufficient' time is defined as participating in some activity but less than 150 minutes per week, using the sum of walking, moderate activity and vigorous activity (weighted by 2); 'Sufficient' time is defined as 150 minutes per week, using the sum of walking, moderate activity and vigorous activity (weighted by 2) [45].
  8. (d) Co-morbidities include heart conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes, lung conditions, stomach or duodenal ulcer, migraine or headaches, arthritis, cancer other than breast, depression and other prolonged or serious illness.
  9. (e) Complications include wound infection, other infection, skin reaction, seroma.
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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

ISSN: 1477-7525

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