Prostate cancer incidence and newly diagnosed patient profile in Spain in 2010

Abstract

OBJECTIVES • To estimate the 2010 incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in Spain. • To describe the clinical profile of newly diagnosed cases using a nationwide hospital-based registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS • This was a national epidemiological observational study in 25 public hospitals with a specific reference population according to the National Health System. • Sociodemographic and clinical variables of all newly diagnosed, histopathologically confirmed PCa cases were collected in 2010, in the area of influence of each centre. Cases diagnosed in private practice were not collected (estimated nearly 10% in Spain). • Data monitoring was external to guarantee quality and homogeneity. • The age-standardized PCa incidence was determined based on the age distribution of the European standard population. RESULTS • In all, 4087 new cases of PCa were diagnosed for a reference population of 4 933 940 men (21.8% of the Spanish male population). • The estimated age-standardized PCa incidence was 70.75 cases per 100 000 men. • Mean age at diagnosis was 69 years; 11.6% of patients presented with tumourrelated symptoms and 39.5% with LUTS. Median PSA was 8 ng/mL. Gleason score was ≤ 6 in 56.5%, 7 in 26.7% and > 7 in 16.8% of patients. At diagnosis, 89.8% had localized, 6.4% locally advanced and 3.8% metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS • This study on PCa incidence in Spain, a western country with intensive opportunistic PSA screening, shows that PCa is a high incidence tumour, diagnosed close to 70 years, usually asymptomatic. • Almost 40% of cases have low risk disease with a risk of over-diagnosis and over-treatment. • Around 55% of patients with intermediate or high risk disease are candidates for active therapy which may result in a reduction of cancer-specific mortality. © 2012 Asociación Espanola Urología.