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Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of all lung cancer diagnoses, and approximately 35% of patients with NSCLC are diagnosed at an early stage (I–IIIA). This study aimed to describe epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) testing, patient characteristics, and overall survival (OS) among patients with early‐stage NSCLC in Denmark. Patients with early‐stage NSCLC registered in the Danish Lung Cancer Registry in 2013–2018 were followed through 2019. We described EGFR testing, descriptively summarised patient characteristics, and calculated OS by EGFR testing and mutation status. The association between EGFR mutation (EGFRm) and all‐cause mortality was estimated using Cox proportional‐hazards regression, in subgroups defined by stage at diagnosis, age at diagnosis, comorbidity, and receipt of surgery. In 2013–2018, 21,282 patients with NSCLC were registered in the Danish Lung Cancer Registry, of whom 8758 were diagnosed at an early stage. Of those, 4071 (46%) were tested for EGFRm at diagnosis. Median OS was 5.7 years among patients with EGFRm‐positive status (n = 361) and 4.4 years among patients with EGFRm‐negative status (n = 3710). EGFRm‐positive status was associated with lower all‐cause mortality in all subgroups. This study contributes to population‐based evidence on the epidemiology of early‐stage NSCLC treated in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of general practice utilization in the period before lung cancer ( LC) diagnosis may provide new knowledge to ensure timelier and earlier diagnosis of LC. This study aimed to explore the prediagnostic activity in general practice in the year preceding LC diagnosis. The activity was compared to a matched comparison group. We compared LC patients with different stage, and patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD). Using Danish registers, we performed a population-based matched cohort study including lung cancer patients ( n = 34,017) and matched comparison subjects ( n = 340,170). During months 12 to 1 prior to diagnosis, 92.6% of LC patients and 88.4% of comparison subjects had one or more contacts with general practice. 13.0% of LC patients and 3.3% of comparison subjects had two or more X-rays. 20.8% of LC patients and 8.5% of comparison subjects had two or more first-time antibiotics prescriptions. The incidence rate ratio for having a contact to general practice was similar for LC patients with localized disease compared to LC patients with metastatic disease. LC patients with COPD had more frequent contacts, lung functions tests, X-rays, and prescriptions than COPD patients without lung cancer, but not as pronounced as compared to patients without COPD. There was a significant increase in healthcare seeking and diagnostic activity in the year prior to a LC diagnosis, regardless of stage at diagnosis. COPD may mask the symptoms of LC. This indicates the presence of a 'diagnostic time window' and a potential for more timely diagnosis of LC based on clinical signs and symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]