Figure 1

CONSORT flow diagram: The PEX-LC lung cancer investigation cohort. This figure is based on the CONSORT 2010 flow diagram. As this was not a randomised intervention trial, it has been modified to suit this cohort study accordingly. Primary LC: primary lung cancer (no other cancer); NC, no cancer; NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, n = 200; squamous cell carcinoma, n = 45; not otherwise specified (NOS), n = 5; other NSCLC (adenosquamous lung carcinoma (n = 4), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (n = 3); large cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung, adenoid carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung (n = 1, respectively)); SCLC: Small cell lung cancer (includes one individual with combined SCLC) (n = 24); Other LC: carcinoid, n = 9; no histology, n = 17. *Not meeting inclusion criteria: translator required (n = 50), consent withdrawn/missing (n = 15); missing data (n = 5); other reason such as or pain, illness, or other medical condition (n = 25). ¹ Other reasons: Limited time of the visit or lack of resources (staff) at the clinic (n = 47); hospitalisations (n = 34); deaths (n = 20). ² Other: Medical records non-consent (n = 4); unconfirmed, possible lung cancer (n = 3); undiagnosed cancer (n = 2); death before clinical investigation (n = 1); participant withdrew clinical investigation (n = 2); previous lung cancer (n = 1); incomplete modules (n = 12). Primary LC: Current/previous comorbidities include Crohn’s disease, diabetes, gout, lymphedema, pulmonary fibrosis, fibromyalgia, sarcoidosis (n = 1, respectively); rheumatoid arthritis (n = 2); asbestos-related disease (n = 3); heart disease or anaemia (n = 4, respectively); chronic bronchitis (n = 5); angina pectoris (n = 15); emphysema (n = 17); pulmonary oedema (n = 33); asthma (n = 35); chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD, n = 70); pneumonia (n = 73); no comorbidities/unknown (n = 113). NC (no malignant cancer): Diagnoses included Castleman’s disease, empyema, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, polymyositis, previous granulomatosis with polyangiitis, haemoptysis, tuberculosis (n = 1, respectively); benign hamartoma, resected benign hamartoma, tularaemia (n = 2, respectively); diabetes, sarcoidosis (n = 3, respectively). Current/previous conditions, NC: asbestos-related disease, bronchitis, kidney failure or lung embolism (n = 1, respectively); anaemia (n = 3); chronic bronchitis (n = 5); emphysema (n = 6); angina pectoris (n = 7); pulmonary oedema (n = 25); heart disease or COPD (n = 26, respectively); asthma (n = 34); pneumonia (n = 58); no diagnosis/unknown (n = 73).