Thirty-year trends in incidence and age-distribution of prostate cancer in Kingston and St Andrew, Jamaica, 1978-2007.

Abstract

To investigate the trends in incidence and age-distribution of prostate cancer in Kingston and St Andrew (KSA), Jamaica, over the 30-year period 1978-2007. From published Jamaica Cancer Registry (JCR) data, we extracted age-standardized rates of prostate cancer for the six 5-year reporting periods that comprised the 30-year study span, and from the archived files of the JCR, the patient ages at diagnosis for all prostate cancer cases recorded over the 30-year period were extracted. The results were compared with data from other black populations. The incidence of prostate cancer in KSA, Jamaica, is lower than that in black men in the United States and United Kingdom. The KSA incidence showed a progressive increase since the 1983-1987 reporting period, and the greatest 5-year percentage increases were seen over the period 1983 to 1997. Men in the 60-74-year age group were the commonest contributors to prostate cancer total in all 5-year periods examined, and between 1988 and 2007, there were increases in the proportionate contributions from the 25-59 and 60-74-year age groups, and a decrease in contribution from men aged 75 years and older. The incidence of prostate cancer in KSA, Jamaica, has been progressively increasing since 1983, and there has been a concomitant increase in the proportionate contribution from younger men. Continued increase is likely over the next several years, but KSA currently appears to be a relatively low-risk region for prostate cancer, compared to black populations in developed Western countries.