Table 2.

Distribution and odds ratios (ORs) for the GP to suspect cancer according to the patient’s usual GP consultation frequencya

GP-suspected cancer
ObservedCrudeAdjustedb
Usual GP consultation frequencyan%OR(95% CI)TrendcOR(95% CI)Trendc
Overall
Rare (n = 748)36148.31.090.92 to 1.301.140.95 to 1.37
Average (n = 2219)103146.51.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 1018)43442.60.830.71 to 0.96P= 0.0180.780.66 to 0.91P<0.001
Females
Rare (n = 303)15852.11.020.79 to 1.321.030.77 to 1.39
Average (n = 1036)53651.71.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 534)24545.90.770.63 to 0.96P= 0.0590.720.57 to 0.91P= 0.032
Males
Rare (n = 445)20345.61.160.93 to 1.441.190.95 to 1.50
Average (n = 1183)49541.81.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 484)18939.00.880.71 to 1.10P= 0.0440.830.66 to 1.04P= 0.011
Age 18–44 years
Rare (n = 63)2641.30.800.44 to 1.450.860.46 to 1.62
Average (n = 192)8946.41.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 44)1534.10.610.31 to 1.19P= 0.5220.560.27 to 1.16P= 0.334
Age 45–54 years
Rare (n = 121)5646.30.810.52 to 1.250.900.55 to 1.46
Average (n = 295)14950.51.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 69)2637.70.560.33 to 0.95P= 0.2330.550.27 to 1.16P= 0.144
Age 55–64 years
Rare (n = 227)10244.91.120.82 to 1.531.200.87 to 1.65
Average (n = 525)21841.51.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 166)6841.00.960.66 to 1.40P= 0.4740.820.55 to 1.23P= 0.104
Age 65–74 years
Rare (n = 229)11650.71.340.98 to 1.821.391.00 to 1.93
Average (n = 640)27843.41.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 334)14443.11.000.76 to 1.31P= 0.0910.970.73 to 1.29P= 0.057
Age 75–84 years
Rare (n = 87)5057.51.330.82 to 2.161.390.83 to 2.34
Average (n = 454)23150.91.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 301)12942.90.720.54 to 0.96P<0.050.690.50 to 0.94P<0.05
Age85 years
Rare (n = 21)1152.40.780.31 to 1.960.490.18 to 1.32
Average (n = 113)6658.41.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 104)5250.00.710.41 to 1.24P= 0.8410.630.34 to 1.18P= 0.618
No comorbidity
Rare (n = 665)31847.81.070.89 to 1.281.150.95 to 1.40
Average (n = 1803)83046.01.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 654)28343.30.890.74 to 1.07P= 0.1010.790.65 to 0.96P<0.01
Moderate comorbidity
Rare (n = 72)3751.41.090.67 to 1.801.310.75 to 2.27
Average (n = 361)17347.91.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 292)12342.10.790.58 to 1.08P= 0.2130.800.58 to 1.11P= 0.093
High comorbidity
Rare (n = 11)654.51.070.23 to 4.042.340.24 to 22.98
Average (n = 55)2850.91.00ref1.00ref
Frequent (n = 72)2838.90.570.28 to 1.17P= 0.3420.490.21 to 1.17P= 0.168
  • a Usual consultation frequency defined according to the patient’s number of face-to-face contacts in the 19–36 months before the cancer diagnosis.

  • b Adjusted for sex, age group, diagnosis, comorbidity, disposable household income, and educational level. Estimates marked by bold were statistically significant at P0.05.

  • c Test for linear trend across categories. ref = reference