The rising trend of prostate cancer: where does Sri Lanka stand?

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men across the world and it shows an increasing tr end. In Sri Lanka it is the fifth most common cancer among men. Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, butthe chance ofhaving prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50.Objectives: To analyse the prostate cancer incidence trends and age at diagnosis in Sri Lank a from 2005 to 2019 Methods: A study was conducted on patients with prostate cancer in Sri Lanka during 2005-2019 using data from the National Cancer Registry, Sri Lanka (NCR-SL). Age standardized rates (ASR), crude incidence rates (CR) and age specific rates were used to determine the trends of prostate cancer in Sri Lanka during this period. Trend analysis of the incidence rates and age standar dized rates were performed usingjoinpoint regression analysis and p<0.05 was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends.Results: Both the CR and ASR of prostate cancer in Sri Lanka has increased from 2005 to 2019. The CR of prostate cancer was 3.1 per 100 000 population in 2005, while it was 9.5 per 100 000 population in 2019. The ASR shows a statistically significant increasing trend during 2005-2019 with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 8.9 % (95% CI: 7.6, 10.3). In this study, the age at diagnosis was 65 years and above in almost 76.8% of cases and the highest number ofcases was seen in the age group ofc::75 years. The commonest morphological type is adenocarcinoma, which comprised more than 50% ofthe total prostate cancers reported throughout this period. Conclusions & Recommendations:The CR and ASR of prostate cancer have nearly tripled with a statistically significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2019 in Sri Lanka. Age at presentation was c::65 years in nearly two-thirds of the cases. Planning a preventive programme targeting males to reduce modifiable risk factors is timel y. Further studies are recommended to study other risk factors which are associated with prostate cancer in Sri Lanka.

With the rising trend of prostate cancer, where does northern Sri Lanka stand? A cohort study from a tertiary care centre.

“…Sri Lanka also shows a rising incidence of prostate cancer in recent years. The crude incidence rate of prostate cancer in Sri Lanka was 3.1 per 100 000 population in 2005, while it was 9.5 per 100 000 population in 2019, thus it shows a three-fold increase over the last 14 years [3]. A similar incidence can be noticed in India, which was 9.47/100000 population [1].…”

“…It is said that the incidence is higher among African American men and their mortality is nearly double than of white men [2]. As per the GLOBOCAN estimate the highest incidence of prostate cancer is in Europe followed by Asia and the mortality is highest in Asia leaving Europe in second place [1,3].…”