Table 1.

Patient demographics

Age, years
  Mean (SD)68.6 (13.3)
  Range16–100
Sex
  Male466 (49.1)
  Female484 (50.9)
  Total950 (100)
Site of primary cancerMale, n (%)Female, n (%)N (%)
Lung or mesothelium101 (21.7)103 (21.3)204 (21.4)
Upper gastrointestinal104 (22.3)57 (11.8161 (16.9)
Prostate and Urological109 (23.4)22 (4.6)131 (13.8)
Colorectal49 (10.5)63 (13.0)112 (11.8)
Breast0 (0)74 (15.3)74 (7.8)
Not known31 (6.7)37 (7.6)68 (7.2)
Gynaecological0 (0)67 (13.8)67 (7.1)
Haematological28 (6.0)24 (5.0)52 (5.5)
Brain16 (3.4)14 (2.9)30 (3.2)
Head and neck14 (3.0)9 (1.9)23 (2.4)
Melanoma7 (1.5)5 (1.0)12 (1.3)
Bone and soft tissue2 (0.4)6 (1.2)8 (0.8)
Other5 (1.1)3 (0.6)8(0.8)
Total466 (100)484 (100)950 (100)
Known metastatic diseaseMale, n (%)Female, n (%)N (%)
  Yes178 (38.2)184 (38.0)362 (38.1)
  No2 (0.4)4 (0.8)6 (0.6)
  No specific mention in notes286 (61.4)296 (61.2)582 (61.1)
  Total466 (100)484 (100)950 (100)
Syringe driver in use
  Yes40 (8.6)44 (9.1)84 (8.8)
  No348 (74.7)342 (70.7)690 (72.6)
  Not known78 (16.7)98 (20.2)176 (18.5)
  Total466 (100)484 (100)950 (100)
Strong opiate already in use
  Yes142 (30.5)154 (31.8)296 (31.2)
  No88 (18.9)73 (15.1)161 (16.9)
  Not known236 (50.6)257 (53.1)493 (51.9)
  Total466 (100)484 (100)950 (100)