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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of breast cancer patients by plasma levels of C-reactive protein

From: Elevated pre-treatment levels of plasma C-reactive protein are associated with poor prognosis after breast cancer: a cohort study

 

Tertiles of C-reactive protein (mg/L)

 
 

1st

(<1.04)

2nd

(1.04 to 3.24)

3rd

(>3.24)

P

No. of patients

975

966

969

 

Median age, years (IQR)

59 (48 to 68)

64 (55 to 73)

65 (56 to 74)

<0.001

Tumour size, No. (%)

    

   ≤20 mm

587 (60)

487 (50)

427 (44)

 

   20 to 50 mm

297 (30)

377 (39)

384 (40)

 

   >50 mm

25 (3)

31 (3)

47 (5)

<0.001

   Unknown

66 (7)

71 (7)

111 (11)

 

Lymph node status, No. (%)

    

   Lymph node negative

459 (47)

453 (47)

442 (44)

 

   Lymph node positive

451 (46)

443 (46)

441 (46)

0.74

   Unknown

65 (7)

70 (7)

106 (11)

 

Distant metastases, No. (%)

    

   No

942 (97)

929 (96)

909 (94)

 

   Yes

6 (1)

7 (1)

27 (3)

<0.001

   Unknown

27 (3)

30 (3)

33 (3)

 

Tumour grade, No. (%)

    

   Well differentiated

248 (25)

243 (25)

194 (20)

 

   Moderately differentiated

431 (44)

392 (41)

439 (45)

 

   Poorly/un-differentiated

158 (16)

193 (20)

154 (16)

0.006

   Unknown

138 (14)

138 (14)

182 (19)

 

Estrogen receptor status, No. (%)

    

   Positive

766 (79)

744 (77)

723 (75)

 

   Negative

146 (15)

150 (16)

140 (14)

0.90

   Unknown

63 (6)

72 (7)

106 (11)

 

Progesterone receptor status, No. (%)

    

   Positive

492 (50)

451 (47)

440 (45)

 

   Negative

243 (25)

286 (30)

258 (27)

0.07

   Unknown

240 (25)

229 (24)

271 (28)

 

HER2 status, No. (%)

    

   Positive

279 (29)

260 (27)

268 (28)

 

   Negative

82 (8)

68 (7)

70 (7)

0.76

   Unknown

614 (63)

638 (66)

631 (65)

 

Cigarettes smoked per day, No. (%)

    

   <10

689 (71)

624 (65)

531 (55)

 

   10 to 20

91 (9)

110 (11)

141 (15)

 

   ≥20

61 (6)

80 (8)

110 (11)

<0.001

   Unknown

134 (14)

152 (16)

187 (19)

 

Alcohol consumption in grams per week*, No. (%)

    

   ≤168

786 (81)

743 (77)

702 (72)

 

   >168

66 (7)

82 (8)

86 (9)

0.08

   Unknown

123 (13)

141 (15)

181 (19)

 

Body mass index in kg/m2†, No. (%)

    

   <18.5

46 (5)

16 (2)

15 (2)

 

   18.5 to 24.9

554 (57)

367 (38)

255 (26)

 

   25 to 29.9

133 (14)

241 (25)

242 (25)

 

   ≥30

18 (2)

75 (8)

138 (14)

<0.001

   Unknown

224 (23)

267 (28)

319 (33)

 

Menopause status, No (%)

    

   Post menopause

640 (66)

795 (82)

825 (85)

 

   Pre menopause

325 (33)

159 (16)

130 (13)

<0.001

   Unknown

10 (1)

12 (1)

14 (1)

 

Cardiovascular disease, No (%)

    

   No

910 (93)

869 (90)

847 (87)

 

   Yes

38 (4)

60 (6)

78 (8)

<0.001

   Unknown

27 (3)

37 (4)

44 (5)

 
  1. Blood samples were drawn and CRP measured at time of diagnosis of breast cancer.
  2. P-values were calculated using χ2 tests for categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance tests for continuous variables. For the evaluation of P-values, patients with unknown values were excluded.
  3. IQR = interquartile range.
  4. *Cut-off values are based on the recommendation from of the Danish National Board of Health.
  5. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.