Epidemiology of cancer of the prostate in Canada: 1950-1984

Canadian patterns of morbidity and mortality from malignancies of the prostate were examined for the periods 1970 to 1980 and 1950 to 1984 respectively. Age-standardised morbidity (ASMR) and mortality (ASDR) rates have risen dramatically during the two periods. The rise in ASMRs, at 1.07 additional new cases per 100,000 population per year since 1970 (P = 0.0001), is attributable to significant increases in age-specific morbidity rates for males aged 45 to 54, 55 to 64, 65 to 74 and 85+ (0.5 to 15.2 additional new cases per 100,000 population per year) (P less than 0.002). The significant increase in ASDRs, 0.09 additional deaths per 100,000 population per year since 1950 (P = 0.0001), is a reflection of significant increases in age-specific mortality rates for males aged 75 to 84 and 85+ (2.8 and 9.3 additional deaths per 100,000 population per year) (P = 0.001).