Study population characteristics in terms of DNA image and cytometric diagnosis#
| Total | DNA image | Cytometric | |
| Normal | Suspicious | ||
| Subjects n | 2480 | 2285 (92.8) | 176 (7.2) |
| Males | 1768 (71.3) | 1620 (70.9) | 136 (77.3) |
| Females | 712 (28.7) | 665 (29.1) | 40 (22.7) |
| Age yrs | 59.6±5.9 | 59.7±5.9 | 59.4±5.9 |
| Pack-yrs | 58.5±25.0 | 58.2±25.1 | 63.6±24.2¶ |
| Age started smoking yrs | 17.7±3.44 | 17.7±3.4 | 17.9±3.8 |
| Ex-smoker yes/no | 237/2228 (9.6) | 226/2053 (9.9) | 8/160 (4.3) |
| Hoarseness yes/no | 326/2084 (13.5) | 308/1908 (13.9) | 17/155 (9.9) |
| Loss of weight yes/no | 114/2318 (4.7) | 103/2134 (4.6) | 10/165 (5.7) |
| Lack of appetite yes/no | 109/2327 (4.5) | 98/2144 (4.4) | 10/163 (5.8) |
| Cough | 2428 | 2244 | 176 |
| No | 561 (23.1) | 529 (23.6) | 26 (14.8)*** |
| Mild | 632 (26.0) | 593 (26.4) | 34 (19.7)*** |
| Moderate | 920 (37.9) | 833 (37.1) | 85 (48.1)*** |
| Severe | 315 (13.0) | 289 (12.9) | 31 (17.5)*** |
| Current existing disease | |||
| Bronchial asthma yes/no | 249/2102 (10.6) | 227/1939 (10.5) | 22/146 (13.1) |
| Chronic bronchitis yes/no | 883/1512 (36.9) | 579/1626 (37.5) | 72/104 (40.9) |
| Allergy yes/no | 626/1772 (26.1) | 579/1626 (26.3) | 43/132 (24.6) |
| Exposure history | |||
| Harmful agents yes/no | 1163/1302 (47.2) | 1057/1211 (46.6) | 95/79 (54.6)+ |
| Mining industry yes/no | 228/2179 (9.5) | 253/2015 (11.2) | 25/148 (14.5) |
| Asbestos yes/no | 378/2081 (15.4) | 349/1919 (15.4) | 26/148 (14.9) |
| Breeding birds at home yes/no | 752/1019 (42.4) | 692/937 (42.5) | 54/76 (41.5) |
| Cancer family history yes/no | 1182/1208 (49.5) | 1086/1112 (49.4) | 85/89 (48.9) |
| Ever-cancer patients yes/no | 102/2372 (41.2) | 98/2137 (4.4) | 4/170 (2.3) |
Data are presented as mean±sd or n (%), unless otherwise stated. #: Missing values not included. Significant differences between groups with normal cytometric results and suspicious results in mean pack-yrs by t-test (¶: p = 0.005), in distribution of various intensive cough (***: p = 0.001) and exposure history to harmful substances (+: p = 0.036) using Pearson's Chi-squared test.