Participant information
angina, obstructive lung disease, non-cancer, cancer, emphysema, lung cancer, cough, asthma, COPD
OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE, CANCER, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, EMPHYSEMA, LUNG CANCER, COPD, ASTHMA
Participants (males and females) were enrolled in one of two groups. The non-cancer group included participants (aged 52–79) who were either current smokers with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, or current non-smokers with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, who quit smoking within the past 15 years. The exceptions were two participants: one had quit smoking 26 years ago and one had smoked for 11.5 pack years. Most participants in the non-cancer group had received an LDCT result or other form of imaging that was not suspicious for cancer, and they were advised to return for LDCT screening in 12 months. In a few cases, participants initially placed in the non-cancer group underwent a follow-up LDCT, PET/CT or a biopsy. These participants were followed until their health status was confirmed. If they were diagnosed with lung cancer, they were switched to the cancer group.Each participant in the cancer group had been evaluated by a physician as highly suspect of having lung cancer based on medical history and LDCT or other imaging results. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy after a sputum sample was provided. The exception was a patient who had developed a new nodule of 24 mm and who was too fragile to undergo biopsy. If biopsy showed no cancer, the participant was switched to the non-cancer group. There was no limitation of age or smoking history for enrollment in the cancer group.For each participant we collected the following demographic data: gender (male or female); age (years); ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino or non-Hispanic/Latino); and race (American Indian/Alaska native; Asian; Black/African American; native Hawaiian/other Pacific islander; White; other). Data on smoking history was collected, as well as data on comorbidities (asthma, COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis) and previous cancer history. All participants needed to be willing to provide a primary care physician’s contact information and agree to have medical information released if requested. Exclusion criteria included the presence of severe obstructive lung disease and inability to cough with sufficient exertion to produce a sputum sample, angina with minimal exertion, and pregnancy.