Significantly reduced incidence and improved survival from prostate cancer over 25 years

Prostate cancer (PCa) was the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality and survival of PCa in Girona, Spain, over 25 years.

Population-based study of PCa collected in the Girona Cancer Registry, 1994-2018. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 men-year. Joinpoint regression models were used for trends, calculating the annual percentage changes (APC). Observed and net survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Pohar-Perme estimations, respectively.

A total of 9,846 cases of PCa were registered between 1994-2018. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were 154.7 (95%CI: 151.7 157.8) and 38.9 (95%CI: 37.3 -40.6), respectively. An increased incidence of 6.2% was observed from 1994 to 2003 (95%CI: 4.4 -8.1), and a decrease of -2.7% (95%CI: -3.5 -;-1.9) between 2003 and 2018. Mortality APC was -2.6% (95%CI: -3.3 --2.0). Five-year observed and net survival were 72.8% (95%CI: 71.8 - 73.7) and 87.2% (95%CI: 85.9 - 88.4), respectively. Five-year net survival increased over time from 72.9% (1994-1998) to 91.3% (2014-2018).

The analyses show a clear reduction in PCa incidence rates from 2003 on, along with an increase in overall survival when comparing the earlier period with more recent years.