These researchers combined lung cancer registration data from the Midland Lung Cancer Register (MLCR, including Lakes, Waikato, Tairawhiti and Bay of Plenty District Health Boards) and clinical records, as well as from the New Zealand Cancer Registry (NZCR) for the period 2011–2015, to create a combined Midland Lung Cancer Dataset. The combined Midland Lung Cancer Dataset included 2,057 verified lung cancer registrations, including 656 (31.9%) Māori patients and 1,401 (68.1%) non-Māori patients. Compared with non- Māori, Māori patients were more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, more likely to be female, more likely to be a current or ex-smoker and more likely to have SCLC. In adjusted analyses, Māori had a higher likelihood of SCLC than non-Māori (adjusted OR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.05). In logistic regression analyses, the likelihood of being diagnosed with SCLC was over 4-fold higher for current smokers (adjusted OR 4.06; 95% CI, 1.72 to 9.60) and nearly 3 times as likely for ex-smokers (adjusted OR 2.68; 95% CI, 1.14 to 6.30) compared to patients who never smoked.
