Sociodemographic index and global trends in prostate cancer: 1990-2017

Background Considered globally, prostate cancer is a disease of the aging male that increases in prevalence with exposure to screening and diagnostic testing, and which requires a population with the health and longevity to encounter it. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) dataset is an aggregation of worldwide registries and health data systems that reports global and regional assessment of disease impact. Methods Using the GBD database, 1171 worldwide registries and health registration systems from 1990 to 2016 were aggregated for prostate cancer disease codes and outcomes. Disease-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were calculated and segregated by sociodemographic index (SDI) quintile, and compared to other urologic diseases and tuberculosis (TB). Results Prostate cancer exerts a burden of disease that is vastly higher in the top quintile of SDI. The three lowest SDI quintiles represent the majority of global population but are currently less impacted by prostate cancer. Conversely, TB has its highest impact on the lowest SDI levels, although these rates are declining. Conclusions As a global disease, prostate cancer predominantly affects high SDI men who enjoy a longer life expectancy in which to suffer from this disease and a greater exposure to screening and diagnosis. As lower SDI men are elevated in health and income, reallocation of DALYs will occur, and a greater burden of prostate cancer can be expected. These epidemiologic trends have great implications for the allocation of resources, as the population of men affected by prostate cancer outpaces urologic workforce growth.

Automated summary

Analyzing global data shows that prostate cancer exerts a greater burden of disease in regions with high sociodemographic indices, while regions with the lowest sociodemographic indices are more affected by diseases like tuberculosis.