Global, Regional and National Burden of Prostate Cancer, 1990 to 2015: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Abstract

Purpose: Data on the incidence, mortality and burden of prostate cancer as well as changing trends are necessary to provide policy makers with the evidence needed to allocate resources appropriately. This study presents estimates of prostate cancer incidence, mortality and burden from 1990 to 2015 by patient age, country and developmental status using the results of the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study.

Materials and methods: Data from vital registration systems and cancer registries were used to generate mortality estimates. Cause specific mortality served as the basis for estimating incidence, prevalence and disability adjusted life years. The global number of incident cases, deaths and disability adjusted life years attributable to prostate cancer are reported as well as age standardized rates.

Results: Incident cases of prostate cancer increased 3.7-fold from 1990 to 2015. The age standardized incidence rate also increased 1.7-fold during the study period and in 2015 it reached 56.71/100,000 person-years (95% uncertainty interval 45.86-78.45). Global estimates of the age standardized death rate decreased slightly to 14.24 deaths (95% uncertainty interval 11.8-17.95) per 100,000 person-years in 2015. The decline in the age standardized death rate was more prominent in high income countries. Disability adjusted life years attributable to prostate cancer increased by 90% during the study period.

Conclusions: The prostate cancer mortality rate is decreasing in high income countries. However, the incidence and burden of disease are steadily increasing globally, resulting in further challenges in the allocation of limited health care resources. The current study provides comprehensive knowledge of the local burden of disease and help with appropriate allocation of resources for prostate cancer prevention, screening and treatment.

Keywords: global burden of disease; incidence; mortality; prostate-specific antigen; prostatic neoplasms.