Co-morbidities in a Retrospective Cohort of Prostate Cancer Patients

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.

Retrospective cohort study among prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

Academic medical center located in the southeastern region of the United States.

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.

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.

Better chronic disease management is needed among prostate cancer survivors through more effective survivorship care planning and interventions that promote health behaviors.