Hospitalization for osteoarthritis and prostate cancer specific mortality among Swedish men with prostate cancer

To examine the potential role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use on prostate cancer (PCa) specific mortality.

We studied the association between hospitalization for osteoarthritis prior to PCa diagnosis, as a surrogate for heavy use of NSAIDs, and PCa specific mortality in a large population of PCa patients in Sweden in 1980-2004.

Hospitalization for osteoarthritis before PCa diagnosis was associated to a lower PCa specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.96), but not to the risk of death from other causes (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.99-1.08). The association was stronger among younger patients and patients diagnosed in earlier calendar years.

Our data demonstrate a modestly decreased PCa specific mortality among PCa patients with hospitalization for osteoarthritis prior to PCa diagnosis, compared to those without such experience. This finding lends support to the hypothesis that NSAIDs use may influence PCa progression.