Sample characteristics
| Characteristic | Patients with colorectal cancer, n= 542 | Controls, n= 2139 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age at diagnosis, years (range) | 72 (30–94) | 72 (30–94) |
| <50 years, n (%) | 31 (5.7) | 116 (5.4) |
| 50–59 years, n (%) | 52 (9.6) | 210 (9.8) |
| <60 years, n (%) | 83 (15.3) | 326 (15.2) |
| 60–80 years, n (%) | 347 (64.0) | 1378 (64.4) |
| >80 years, n (%) | 112 (20.7) | 435 (20.3) |
| Stage I, n (%) | 118 (21.8) | — |
| Stage II, n (%) | 223 (41.1) | — |
| Stage III, n (%) | 201 (37.1) | — |
| Median number of consultations per patient in year before cancer diagnosis, n (IQR) | 5 (3–8) | 4 (2–7) |
| Median number of unique diagnostic codes per patient in year before cancer diagnosis, n (IQR) | 6 (4–10) | 5 (3–8) |
IQR = interquartile range.