Mortality Trends from Urologic Cancers in Europe over the Period 1980–2017 and a Projection to 2025

Abstract

Background: Patterns and trends in urologic cancer mortality still show geographical differences across Europe. Objective: To monitor mortality trends from urologic cancers, including prostate, testis, bladder, and kidney cancers, in Europe. Design, setting, and participants: We carried out a time-trend analysis for 36 European countries using the official World Health Organization database. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: We extracted the number of deaths and population data over the 1980-2017 period, and calculated age-standardised (world population) mortality rates for each cancer considered, sex, country, and the European Union (EU) as a whole, at all ages; at ages 35-64 yr for prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers; and at ages 20-44 yr for testicular cancer. For selected major countries, we carried out a joinpoint regression analysis to identify significant changes in trends. We also predicted the number of deaths and rates for 2025, using a logarithmic Poisson count data joinpoint regression model. Results and limitations: Prostate cancer mortality in the EU decreased over recent years, reaching a rate of 10.3/100 000 in 2015 and a projected rate of 8.9/100 000 in 2025. Less favourable trends were observed in eastern Europe, though starting from relatively low rates. Testicular cancer mortality declined over time in most countries, however levelling off in northern and western countries, after reaching very low rates. EU testicular cancer mortality rate in 2015 was 0.3/100 000 at all ages and 0.6/100 000 at ages 20-44 yr. Bladder cancer mortality trends were less favourable in central and eastern countries compared to northern and western ones. The EU rates in 2015 were 5.1/100 000 men and 1.1/100 000 women. Kidney cancer mortality showed less favourable trends, with a slight increase in men and stable rates in women over the past decade in the EU. Conclusions: Mortality from prostate, testis, and bladder cancers, but not from kidney cancer, declined in most European countries, with less favourable trends in most eastern countries.

Worldwide Distribution, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends of Testicular Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Global Analysis

“…It is important to evaluate current global epidemiological trends of testicular cancer, such that country-or age-specific preventive strategies can be implemented. Prior studies on testicular cancer had found a decline in mortality among European countries in the past few decades [20] and an increase in incidence globally, with the gap between highand low-incidence countries closing up [21]. However, these were limited to specific countries/region, used historical data, and did not conduct the risk factor analysis by country level [1,[20][21][22][23].…”

“…Prior studies on testicular cancer had found a decline in mortality among European countries in the past few decades [20] and an increase in incidence globally, with the gap between highand low-incidence countries closing up [21]. However, these were limited to specific countries/region, used historical data, and did not conduct the risk factor analysis by country level [1,[20][21][22][23]. This study investigated the most recent global incidence, mortality, risk factors, and temporal trends of testicular cancer by country and age group, using information from global cancer registries and risk factor databases.…”

An analysis of time trends in breast and prostate cancer mortality rates in Lithuania, 1986–2020

“…Effective organized population-based BC screening programmes, implemented in many Northern and Western European countries in the late 1980s, have been related to the reduced BC mortality; whereas the role of extensive opportunistic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based testing for PC remains uncertain [ 1 , 2 , 4 – 9 ]. In Central and Eastern Europe, modest and late decreases or the continued increase in BC and PC mortality was observed; unfavourable trends remain largely unexplained and are only partly attributable to less accessible or delayed modern effective treatment [ 1 – 3 , 5 , 9 – 11 ]. Similar epidemiological features have been shown between BC and PC, implying common causal pathways, including hormonal, metabolic, genetic, dietary and other factors [ 6 , 7 , 12 ].…”

“…In Western and Northern European countries, although PC incidence trends increased, mortality rates have been declining since the 1990s [ 6 , 7 , 15 ]. In Central and Eastern Europe declines in mortality trends started later and were less pronounced [ 1 , 3 , 10 , 16 ]. It has been shown that repeated PC screening using PSA testing reduces PC mortality risk by 20% [ 17 ].…”

“…Similar to other screening programmes in Lithuania, screening registry, systematic written invitation or appropriate screening quality assurance are lacking [ 25 , 26 ]. Although Lithuania is the only country in the world with an implemented PSA-based systematic PC screening [ 24 ], the age-standardized PC mortality rate (ASMR) was 3rd highest and 4th highest in Europe in 2015–2018 and in 2020, respectively [ 3 , 9 ].…”