Table 1 Comparison of the characteristics of those patients with and without prognosis estimates. The percentages are row percentages. Test results are given when P < 0.2. NS = Not significant.

N.

(%)

N.

(%)

TEAM Z

45

28

118

72

Y

28

43

37

57

X

53

80

13

20

W

8

7

107

93

107,6; DF 3, p < 0.001

AGE (mean ± DS)

66.5 ± 9.7

65.9 ± 11.4

NS

(median; range)

67(32–87)

67(32–92)

GENDER

males

77

35

144

65

females

57

30

131

70

NS

PRIMARY TUMOUR

lung

33

30

76

70

GI

31

27

85

73

GU

27

45

33

55

breast

13

34

25

66

others

26

32

56

68

6,37; DF 4; p = 0.173

STATUS

married

78

32

167

68

single

51

32

107

68

NS

CARER

no carer

2

15

11

85

lay carer (wife, husband ...)

109

32

234

68

other (friend, other)

15

34

29

66

NS

SURVIVAL

(mean ± DS)

54.3 ± 57.9

71.3 ± 92.5

(median; range) survival (categories)

33.5 (1–311)

42 (1–734)

p = 0.176 (M-Whitney test)

1–21

49

35

89

65

22–60

43

34

84

66

61–90

16

32

34

68

91–180

17

29

41

71

>180

9

25

27

75

1,78; DF 1 (trend); p 0.183