Four year follow-up of a screening program for prostate cancer in workers

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze our four-year follow-up experience (2008-2011) with a prostate cancer screening program offered to employees of a banking company. METHODS: Data were obtained from the health examinations carried out by the bank's in-house occupational health service (with centers in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia). PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood levels were measured and cases with high levels ({\textgreater}4 ng/ml) were followed through diagnosis and treatment, including a telephone survey of confirmed cases. Personal and occupational characteristics of the participants were analyzed as well. RESULTS: 750 workers (99{\%} with administrative and/or commercial jobs) met the inclusion criteria for the screening program. Of these, 110 had elevated PSA levels on at least one occasion. The diagnosis of prostate cancer was confirmed in 21 cases. There were no associations between a diagnosis of cancer and the remaining analyzed variables. Urology and pathology records were retrieved for 76{\%} of the contacted cases. The most frequent histological type was adenocarcinoma (98{\%}), the most common Gleason grade at diagnosis was 6-7{\%} (88{\%}), and the majority of cases were treated surgically (90{\%}).With respect to adverse effects, 48{\%} of cases described erectile dysfunction and 33{\%} reported urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: In our program the observed prevalence of prostate cancer was above that expected (respectively, 21 confirmed cases vs. 12 expected). The identified cases unanimously expressed their support for the screening program.