title: A comparison of patient and tumour characteristics in two UK bladder cancer cohorts separated by 20 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare patient and tumour characteristics at presentation from two large bladder cancer cohorts, with recruitment separated by 15-20 years To identify significant differences in the West Midlands' urothelial cancer of the bladder (UCB) population during this period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected prospectively from 1478 patients newly diagnosed with UCB in the West Midlands from January 1991 to June 1992 (Cohort 1), and from 1168 patients newly diagnosed with UBC within the same region from December 2005 to April 2011 (Cohort 2). Gender, age, smoking history, and tumour grade, stage, type, multiplicity and size at presentation were compared using a Pearson chi-square test or Cochran-Armitage trend test, as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cohort 2 had a higher proportion of male patients (P = 0.021), elderly patients (P < 0.001), grade 3 tumours (P < 0.001), Ta/T1 tumours (P = 0.008), multiple tumours (P < 0.001), and tumours of ≤2 cm in diameter (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were significant differences between the cohorts. These differences are potentially explained by an ageing population, changes in grading practices, improved awareness of important symptoms, improved cystoscopic technology, and reductions in treatment delays. Regional cohorts remain important for identifying changes in tumour and patient characteristics that may influence disease management in the UK and beyond.
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. r.t.bryan@bham.ac.uk
authors: Richard T
authors: RT
authors: Bryan
authors: Maurice P
authors: MP
authors: Zeegers
authors: Eline H
authors: EH
authors: van Roekel
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Bird
authors: Margaret R
authors: MR
authors: Grant
authors: Janet A
authors: JA
authors: Dunn
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Bathers
authors: Gulnaz
authors: G
authors: Iqbal
authors: Humera S
authors: HS
authors: Khan
authors: Stuart I
authors: SI
authors: Collins
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Howman
authors: Nayneeta S
authors: NS
authors: Deshmukh
authors: Nicholas D
authors: ND
authors: James
authors: Kar Keung
authors: KK
authors: Cheng
authors: D Michael A
authors: DM
authors: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*