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. 2006 Aug 8;95(5):653–659. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603294

Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of 28 765 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer below the age of 70 years in Denmark, 1983–1999.

  Low-risk breast cancer (N=5809)
High-risk breast cancer (N=22 956)
Characteristic N % N %
Age at diagnosis
 <44 years 903 16 4350 19
 45–49 years 996 17 3620 16
 50–54 years 970 17 3884 17
 55–59 years 967 17 3717 16
 60–64 years 1010 17 3751 16
 65–69 years 963 17 3634 16
         
Year of diagnosis
 1983–1987 1314 19 5569 81
 1988–1992 1662 20 6561 80
 1993–1997 1936 20 7513 80
 1998–1999 897 21 3312 79
         
Menopausal status
 Premenopausal 2274 39 9411 41
 Postmenopausal 3535 61 13 545 59
         
Highest attained education
 Basic school/high school 2565 44 10 905 48
 Vocational training 1742 30 6621 29
 Higher education 1123 19 3991 17
 Unknown 379 7 1439 6
         
Occupation
 Higher functionary 1072 18 4071 18
 Lower functionary 1014 17 4047 18
 Skilled worker 378 7 1575 7
 Unskilled worker 677 12 2907 13
 Unemployed or housewife 869 15 3459 15
 Pensioner 1799 31 6897 30
         
Disposable household income a
 –99 999 DKK 1369 24 6099 27
 100 000–129 999 DKK 1482 26 6022 26
 130 000–164 999 DKK 1309 23 5203 23
 165 000–DKK 1649 28 5632 25
         
Cohabiting
 Living with partner 4128 71 16 571 72
 Single 1681 29 6385 28
         
Children living at home b
 0 4735 82 18126 79
 1 659 11 2641 11
 2–5 415 7 2189 10
         
Housing status
 Owner-occupied 3719 64 15 250 66
 Rental 2090 36 7706 34
         
Size of dwelling
 0–99 m2 2193 38 8474 37
 100–124 m2 1168 20 4814 21
 125–149 m2 1003 17 4083 18
 ⩾150 m2 1445 25 5585 24
         
Degree of urbanicity
 Capital areas 944 16 2901 13
 Suburbs 916 16 3175 14
 Provincial cities 2197 38 8930 39
 Rural areas 1752 30 7950 35
         
Mammography screening
 Availablec 5087 88 21 322 93
 Not available 722 12 1634 7
         
Comorbidity d
 0 5324 92 21 132 92
 1 384 6 1384 6
 2+ 101 2 440 2

Low-risk breast cancer: tumour size <2.0 cm, negative axillary lymph nodes, low histologic grade and oestrogen receptor positive; High-risk breast cancer: tumour size >2.0 cm, positive axillary lymph nodes, high histologic grade and oestrogen receptor negative.

a

Household disposable income in Danish crowns (DKK) after taxation and interest adjusted for number of persons in household.

b

Children aged 0–17 years.

c

Mammography screening was offered to all women aged 50–69 years living in Copenhagen municipality from 1991, Frederiksberg municipality from 1992 and Funen County from 1994.

d

Presence of these disorders as defined in Charlson index was defined as an in- or outpatient contact with one of the below diagnosis from 1978 to half a year prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer; Score 1: myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, chronic pulmonary disease, connective tissue disease, ulcer disease, mild liver disease, diabetes type1, diabetes type2; Score 2: hemiplegia, moderate to severe renal disease, diabetes with end organ damage type1, diabetes with end organ damage type2; Score 3: moderate to severe liver disease; Score 6: AIDS; All cancer related diagnoses were excluded since first primary cancers only are in DBCG.