Table 1 Baseline characteristics of HNC patients and their informal caregivers
|  | HNC patients (n = 739) | Informal caregivers (n = 262) |
|---|---|---|
Mean age ± SD | 63.2 ± 9.7 | 58.8 ± 11.6 |
Sex, n (%) | ||
 Men | 549 (74%) | 70 (27%) |
 Women | 190 (26%) | 192 (73%) |
Education level, n (%)a | ||
 Low | 279 (43%) | 82 (37%) |
 Middle | 171 (26%) | 63 (28%) |
 High | 198 (31%) | 78 (35%) |
Living situation, n (%)b | ||
 Living alone | 163 (25%) | 8 (4%) |
 Living with partner (with or without children) | 451 (69%) | 205 (91%) |
 Other (e.g. living with children, living with parents or assisted living | 35 (5%) | 12 (5%) |
Tumor location, n (%) | ||
 Oral Cavity | 199 (27%) |  |
 Oropharynx | 262 (36%) |  |
 Hypopharynx | 52 (7%) |  |
 Larynx | 205 (28%) |  |
 Unknown primary | 21 (3%) |  |
Clinical disease Stage, n (%) | ||
 Stage 0/Ic | 163 (22%) |  |
 Stage II | 132 (18%) |  |
 Stage III | 127 (17%) |  |
 Stage IV | 317 (43%) |  |
Type of treatment, n (%)d | ||
 Single treatment | ||
  Surgery | 152 (21%) |  |
  Radiotherapy | 241 (33%) |  |
 Combination treatment | ||
  Chemoradiotherapy | 215 (29%) |  |
  Surgery and radiotherapy | 106 (14%) |  |
  Surgery and chemoradiotherapy | 23 (3%) |  |
  Othere | 1 (0.1%) |  |
WHO performance, n (%) | ||
 Able to carry out normal activity | 507 (69%) |  |
 Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out light work | 191 (26%) |  |
 Ambulatory and capable of all self-care but unable to carry out any work | 40 (5%) |  |
 Capable of only limited self-care | 1 (0.1%) |  |
 Completely disabled | 0 (0%) |  |
Comorbidity, n (%)f | ||
 None | 204 (29%) |  |
 Mild | 264 (38%) |  |
 Moderate | 155 (22%) |  |
 Severe | 76 (11%) |  |
HPV-status (oropharynx cancer only), n (%)g | Â | Â |
 Positive | 99 (43%) |  |
 Negative | 130 (57%) |  |
Baseline smoking status, n (%)h | ||
 Daily smoker | 127 (22%) | 38 (17%) |
 Not a daily smoker | 445 (78%) | 187 (83%) |
Baseline alcohol consumption, n (%)i | Â | Â |
 Excessive alcohol consumption | 129 (22%) | 25 (11%) |
 No excessive alcohol consumption | 445 (78%) | 200 (89%) |
Relation informal caregiver – patient, n (%)j | ||
 Partner |  | 219 (84%) |
 Daughter/son |  | 31 (12%) |
 Other (i.e. sibling, friend, ex-partner) |  | 10 (4%) |