Co-morbidities in a Retrospective Cohort of Prostate Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: To characterize rates of co-morbidity among prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy and to examine the association between co-mor­bidity status and race, clinical factors, and health behaviors for cancer control.Design/Study Participants: Retrospective cohort study among prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy.Setting: Academic medical center located in the southeastern region of the United States.Main Outcome Measure: Patients with at least one of five co-morbid conditions considered were categorized as having a co-morbidity, and those without any were categorized as not having a co-morbid condition. Co-morbid conditions consid­ered were hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, stroke, and high cholesterol, which had been recorded in the electronic medical record as part of their past medical history.Results: Fifty-one percent of participants had a co-morbidity, with hypertension being the most common. The average number of co-morbidities among study participants was .87. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being diagnosed with prostate can­cer within the past four years was associated with an increased likelihood of having a co-morbidity (OR=4.71, 95% CI=2.69, 8.25, P=.0001) compared with diagnosis five or more years ago. Age was also associated with an increased likelihood of having a co-morbidity (OR=1.30, 95% CI=1.005, 1.68, P=.05). In this study cohort, race, stage at diagnosis, and PSA level were not statisti­cally associated with co-morbidity status.Conclusion: Better chronic disease management is needed among prostate cancer survivors through more effective survivorship care planning and interventions that promote health behaviors.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 1):185-192; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S1.185

Risks from Deferring Treatment for Genitourinary Cancers: A Collaborative Review to Aid Triage and Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…With regard to the current pandemic, PCa is more common in men at risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19. For example, the incidence of PCa increases with age and in black men [43], and >50% of affected men have one or more comorbidities [45]. For the vast majority of men, it will be more prudent to perform PCa investigations, including imaging or biopsy, when the risks from COVID-19 are lower.…”

The extent and pattern of symptom relief after surgical castration for patients with advanced prostate cancer treated at a Muhimbili National Hospital.

“…According to a retrospective cohort study performed in the USA, increasing age is also a risk factor for developing chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, as men age, they are at risk of developing multiple acute and chronic conditions that increase their likelihood of morbidity and mortality (17). In our study, 53.8% and 5.2% of advanced prostate cancer patients older than 65 years who underwent surgical castration were found to have hypertension, diabetes, or both with only 4 patients (1.9%) having HIV and were receiving regular medications.…”

New approaches and prospects of immunotherapy and gene therapy for prostate cancer

“…Contrary to other studies, such as the one by Edwards et al, which predicted co-morbidity conditions included in the Charlson Co-Morbidity Index, excluding hypertension, our higher overall rates of co-morbidity may be due to the inclusion of hypertension [270,271] . Considering earlier research showing that men undergoing radical prostatectomy have a higher chance of biochemical recurrence posttreatment, the absence of hypertension in studies analyzing the prognosis of prostate cancer may be a noteworthy oversight [272,273] .…”