The significance of biological, environmental, and social risk factors for prostate cancer in a cohort study in Brazil

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the signifi cance of several risk factors for prostate cancer in a cohort of Brazilian men. Subjects and methods: Men  40 years-old participating in a prostate cancer screening program between December 2006 and April 2011 in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, were evaluated to determine the prevalence, relative risk (RR) and 95% CI of prostate cancer according to age, race, ethnicity, family history of prostate cancer, educational level, and history of vasectomy, increased blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and urethritis. Results: In 2121 men included in this study, prostate cancer prevalence was 0.6% for men between 40-49 years versus 2.0% (adjusted RR = 2.58), 7.7% (adjusted RR = 5.76), and 8.4% (adjusted RR = 4.88) for men 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and  70 years, respectively (p < 0.05 to all). The prevalence of cancer was 5.1% in blacks versus 3.3% in whites (adjusted RR = 1.56, p > 0.05); 6.1% in African descendants, in comparison to 3.0% in non-African descendants (adjusted RR = 3.17, p < 0.05); 5.1% in men with a positive family history, compared to 2.5% in those with no family history (adjusted RR = 1.55, p > 0.05); and 4.8% in participants with incomplete elementary school level or lower, compared to 2.2% in men with complete elementary school level or higher education (adjusted RR = 1.85, p > 0.05). Men with/without history of vasectomy, increased blood pressure, diabetes, and urethritis had a prostate cancer prevalence of 0.8%/3.0% (adjusted RR = 0.23, p > 0.05), 3.8%/2.2% (adjusted RR = 1.16, p > 0.05), 3.7%/2.6% (adjusted RR = 1.39, p > 0.05), and 2.6%/2.6% (adjusted RR = 0.99, p > 0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Risk factors associated with an increased prevalence of prostate cancer in this cohort included increasing age and African ethnicity.

Controversial predictors of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: a study from a Latin American (Brazilian) Institution

“…The prevalence of prostate cancer in Brazil is higher in Black men compared to White men (12)(13)(14)(15). We studied the influence of race in regard to biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.…”

Genetic ancestry and prostate cancer susceptibility SNPs in Puerto Rican and African American men

“…Studies done in Latin America and the Caribbean have also shed light into the relationship among environmental and social risk factors with risks for cancers in general and PCa in particular. Romero et al, suggested that decreased SES, could impact the development of cancers. Allan Patrick analyzing results from The Tobago Prostate Cancer Survey, also found that within the Afro‐Caribbean group, poor social, and economic status could impact the development of PCa by factors such as exposure to hazardous substances at work or in the household, poor nutrition and lack of or poor access to health care.…”

Men's health: non-communicable chronic diseases and social vulnerability

“…Related to personal issues, the main risk factors described for the development of prostate cancer are: age ( 16 , ethnicity ( 20 and family predisposition ( 21 . In addition, first-degree relatives of patients with prostate cancer relatives are at increased risk of developing this cancer when compared to men in the general population ( 22 .…”