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 (%)1
– Low

279 (43%)

82 (37%)

– Middle

171 (26%)

63 (28%)

– High

198 (31%)

78 (35%)

Living situation, n (%)2
– 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/I3

163 (22%)

– Stage II

132 (18%)

– Stage III

127 (17%)

– Stage IV

317 (43%)

Type of treatment, n (%)4
– Single treatment
Surgery

152 (21%)

Radiotherapy

241 (33%)

– Combination treatment
Chemoradiotherapy

215 (29%)

Surgery and radiotherapy

106 (14%)

Surgery and chemoradiotherapy

23 (3%)

Other5

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 (%)6
– None

204 (29%)

– Mild

264 (38%)

– Moderate

155 (22%)

– Severe

76 (11%)

HPV-status (oropharynx cancer only), n (%)7
– Positive

99 (43%)

– Negative

130 (57%)

Baseline smoking status, n (%)8
– Daily smoker

127 (22%)

38 (17%)

– Not a daily smoker

445 (78%)

187 (83%)

Baseline alcohol consumption, n (%)9
– Excessive alcohol consumption

129 (22%)

25 (11%)

– No excessive alcohol consumption

445 (78%)

200 (89%)

Relation informal caregiver – patient, n (%)10
– Partner

219 (84%)

– Daughter/son

31 (12%)

– Other (i.e. sibling, friend, ex-partner)

10 (4%)