Table 2.
Descriptive characteristics of the study patients
| Variables | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Total | 3,513 (100) |
| Age at diagnosis, y | |
| 66–74 | 2,255 (64) |
| 75–79 | 691 (20) |
| ≥80 | 567 (16) |
| Metropolitan area | |
| Yes | 2,920 (83) |
| No | 593 (17) |
| Teaching hospital | |
| Yes | 2,013 (57) |
| No | 1,500 (43) |
| Region | |
| East | 776 (22) |
| Midwest | 406 (12) |
| South | 959 (27) |
| West | 1372 (39) |
| Sex | |
| Male | 2,471 (70) |
| Female | 1,042 (30) |
| Race | |
| White | 2,961 (84) |
| Black | 329 (9) |
| Other | 223 (6) |
| Marital status | |
| Married | 1,894 (54) |
| Other | 1,619 (46) |
| Charlson comorbidity score | |
| 0 | 1,861 (53) |
| 1 | 947(27) |
| 2 | 395 (11) |
| ≥3 | 310 (9) |
| Year of diagnosis | |
| 2000–2003 | 988 (28) |
| 2004–2006 | 1,109 (32) |
| 2007–2009 | 1,416 (43) |
| Tumor site | |
| Hypopharynx | 391 (11) |
| Larynx | 834 (24) |
| Nasopharynx | 148 (4) |
| Oral cavity | 583 (17) |
| Oropharynx | 1,298 (37) |
| Other | 259 (7) |
| Historic stage | |
| Localized | 478 (14) |
| Regional | 2,219 (63) |
| Distant | 695 (20) |
| Unknown | 121 (3) |
| PET | |
| Yes | 1,800 (51) |
| No | 1,713 (49) |
| IMRT | |
| Yes | 1,821 (52) |
| No | 1,692 (48) |
| Surgery prior to radiation | |
| Yes | 753 (21) |
| No | 2,760 (79) |
| Sequence of chemotherapy and radiotherapy | |
| During only | 1,982 (56) |
| During, and before | 458 (13) |
| During, and after | 894 (25) |
| During, before, and after | 179 (5) |
| Types of chemotherapy | |
| Cisplatin | 768 (22) |
| Cetuximab | 588 (17) |
| Other | 2,157 (61) |
Abbreviations: PET, Positron Emission Tomography; IMRT, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.