Table 3 Multivariable ordered logistic regression models showing the associations between smoking status and symptom concern regarding each lung cancer symptom and combination of two lung cancer symptoms (adjusted odds ratios (OR)).

From: Smoking status, symptom significance and healthcare seeking with lung cancer symptoms in the Danish general population

Smoking status

Symptom concern

Prolonged coughing

(n = 3134)

ORa (95% CI)

Shortness of breath

(n = 2248)

ORa (95% CI)

Prolonged hoarseness

(n = 809)

ORa (95% CI)

Changes in a familiar cough (n

ORa (95% CI) = 274)

Tiredness

(n = 9998)

ORa (95% CI)

Loss of appetite

(n = 1179)

ORa (95% CI)

Weight loss

(n = 413)

ORa (95% CI)

Never smoking

Prolonged coughing

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Prolonged coughing

1.3 (1.1; 1.5)

1.2 (0.9; 1.6)

1.4 (1.0; 2.0)

1.7 (0.8; 3.4)

1.2 (1.0; 1.5)

1.2 (0.7; 2.0)

1.3 (0.5; 3.5)

Current smoking

Prolonged coughing

1.8 (1.5; 2.2)

1.8 (1.3; 2.5)

1.9 (1.3; 3.0)

2.5 (1.0; 6.2)

1.9 (1.5; 2.3)

1.5 (0.9; 2.5)

0.8 (0.3; 2.1)

Never smoking

Shortness of breath

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Shortness of breath

1.1 (0.8; 1.5)

1.1 (0.9; 1.3)

1.2 (0.8; 1.8)

1.7 (0.5; 2.3)

1.0 (0.8; 1.2)

0.8 (0.5; 1.3)

0.9 (0.4; 2.0)

Current smoking

Shortness of breath

1.9 (1.4; 2.6)

1.5 (1.2; 1.8)

2.0 (1.2; 3.3)

2.3 (0.8; 6.4)

1.6 (1.3; 2.1)

1.4 (0.8 ;2.3)

0.9 (0.4 ;2.4)

Never smoking

Prolonged hoarseness

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Prolonged hoarseness

1.2 (0.8; 1.7)

1.3 (0.9; 1.9)

1.1 (0.9; 1.4)

0.4 (0.2; 0.9)

1.1 (0.8; 1.4)

1.3 (0.7; 2.2)

1.9 (0.7; 5.3)

Current smoking

Prolonged hoarseness

2.0 (1.3; 3.0)

1.9 (1.2; 3.2)

2.0 (1.5; 2.6)

1.3 (0.4; 4.1)

1.8 (1.3; 2.5)

1.7 (0.9; 3.3)

0.8 (0.3 ;2.6)

Never smoking

Changes in a familiar cough

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Changes in a familiar cough

1.4 (0.7; 2.8)

1.0 (0.5; 2.2)

0.7 (0.3; 1.7)

1.1 (0.7; 1.8)

1.4 (0.8; 2.4)

0.8 (0.3; 2.5)

1.2 (0.2; 7.1)

Current smoking

Changes in a familiar cough

2.1 (0.8; 5.4)

1.8 (0.7; 4.9)

1.3 (0.4; 4.1)

2.1 (1.1; 4.0)

2.0 (1.0; 4.2)

1.2 (0.4; 3.7)

1.1 (0.2; 7.0)

Never smoking

Tiredness

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Tiredness

1.0 (0.9; 1.3)

1.1 (0.9; 1.3)

1.0 (0.8; 1.3)

1.0 (0.6; 1.7)

1.1 (1.0; 1.2)

0.9 (0.7; 1.2)

0.9 (0.6; 1.4)

Current smoking

Tiredness

1.5 (1.2; 1.9)

1.7 (1.3; 2.1)

1.8 (1.3; 2.5)

1.7 (0.8; 3.5)

1.6 (1.4; 1.7)

1.4 (1.1; 1.9)

1.2 (0.7; 2.0)

Never smoking

Loss of appetite

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Loss of appetite

0.9 (0.6; 1.5)

1.0 (0.6; 1.6)

1.4 (0.8; 2.4)

1.1 (0.3; 3.5)

1.1 (0.8; 1.4)

1.1 (0.9; 1.4)

0.8 (0.4; 1.5)

Current smoking

Loss of appetite

1.7 (1.0; 2.7)

1.6 (1.0; 2.7)

3.1 (1.6; 5.9)

1.4 (0.4; 4.4)

1.6 (1.2; 2.2)

1.7 (1.3; 2.2)

1.5 (0.7; 2.9)

Never smoking

Weight loss

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Former smoking

Weight loss

1.1 (0.4; 2.9)

1.3 (0.6; 2.7)

1.1 (0.4; 3.3)

0.5 (0.1; 3.3)

1.0 (0.6; 1.6)

1.0 (0.5; 1.7)

1.0 (0.6; 1.4)

Current smoking

Weight loss

1.0 (0.4; 2.6)

1.2 (0.5; 3.1)

1.2 (0.4; 3.9)

0.1 (0.0; 0.5)

1.2 (0.7; 2.1)

1.4 (0.7; 2.8)

1.1 (0.7; 1.9)

  1. Analyses of single symptoms.
  2. Bold: Statistically significant.
  3. aAdjusted for gender, age, overall concern about current health, chronic disease, work market affiliation, educational level and ethnicity.
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