RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Gender difference in age, risk factors and histological characteristics of lung cancer patients presented to the respiratory unit of Teaching Hospital Kandy JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P3134 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Dinesh Dassanayake A1 Anoma Siribaddana A1 Samantha Gannoruwa A1 Kapila Senevirathna A1 Kiruna Wickramasekera YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3134.abstract AB BackgroundIn Sri Lanka lung cancer is rare among females with an incidence of 3 per 100000 population compared to males which is 12 per 100000.ObjectiveTo describe the gender differences in age, risk factors and histological characteristics of lung cancer patients.MethodsThe study was carried out in the Respiratory Unit of the Teaching Hospital Kandy from 30/4/2010 to 31/3/2011. Consecutive patients with histologically proven lung cancer were recruited. Age at presentation and risk factors were documented and males and females were compared using Chi square statistics and Fishers Exact test.p value < 0.05 was taken as significant.ResultsThere were 12(19.3%) female and 50 (80.7%) male patients. Mean age of males was 61 (SD 8.8) and females was 57 (SD 13.7).Four (8.0%) males and 5 (41.6%) females were below the age of 50 [Chi-6.33, p=0.011]. Forty one (82%) males and one female (8.3%) were active smokers [Chi = 110,p< 0.0001].Four males(8%) and 10 (83%) females were exposed to smoke given off from firewood during cooking [Chi = 113, p <0.0001]. Histologically only 4 (33%) females had squamous carcinoma but 32 (64%) males had squamous carcinoma [chi 19,p <0.0001]. Six (50.0%) females and 9 (18%) males had adenocarcinoma [Chi 22.2, p< 0.0001].Five males had small cell carcinoma while none of the females had [FET, p 0.0011].ConclusionsFemale lung cancer patients were younger compared to males. Histological types and risk factors were differrent between 2 groups.Whether age and histological difference are related to possible risk factor difference needs further investigation.