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Table 1 Study Sample Patient Characteristics, N = 77,306

From: A method to predict breast cancer stage using Medicare claims

Predictor Variable

% of All Patients

Demographic

 

Age, mean (SD)

76 (7)

White race

94

Stage

 

Stage I

51

Stage II

26

Stage III

10

Stage IV

4

Stages I-III but T or N unknown

9

Extent of disease a

 

Axillary LN involvement

19

Metastatic disease

14

Cancer treatment a

 

No. visits to surgeon, mean (SD)

4 (3)

No. visits to medical oncologist, mean (SD)

4 (9)

No. visits to radiation oncologist, mean (SD)

3 (5)

Imaging (CT, MRI, PET, or bone scan)

25

Radiation therapy

44

Breast conserving surgery

45

Mastectomy

49

Axillary LN dissection

72

Chemotherapy (any agent)

18

   Doxorubicin

7

   Paclitaxel

3

No. physician visits, mean (SD)

14 (12)

Screening mammography

78

Influenza vaccine

34

General health status a

 

No. hospital admission for any cause, mean (SD)

1 (1)

Charlson comorbidity score

 

   0 comorbid conditions

69

   1 comorbid condition

18

   2 or more comorbid conditions

8

   Unknown

5

  1. Abbreviations: CT computed tomography; LN lymph nodes; MRI magnetic resonance imaging PET positron emission tomography; SD standard deviation
  2. a As indicated by Medicare claims codes; thus percentage of patients with code for metastatic disease not equal to patients with Stage IV disease.