A retrospective cross-sectional study on district-based socioeconomic status and prostate cancer diagnosis

Socioeconomic disparities have been linked to delayed prostate cancer diagnosis and poorer outcomes in various countries. This study aims to evaluate the socioeconomic disparities in prostate cancer diagnostics in Vienna, Austria, by examining initial prostate-specific antigen values and age at diagnosis across different districts and nationalities.

This retrospective study included 1356 prostate cancer patients treated at the Medical University of Vienna between 2012 and 2022. Influence of residential districts and nationalities of the patients on the initial prostate-specific antigen (iPSA) value and on the age at diagnosis were analyzed. Patient data, including iPSA values, residential districts, and nationalities, were retrieved from the hospital's internal documentation system. The information on average income of residential districts was obtained from the City of Vienna's municipality data. Nationalities were grouped into EU and non-EU categories. Statistical analyses, including linear regression and t‑tests, were performed to examine the relationship between iPSA values, age at diagnosis, and socioeconomic variables. Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between district income and both iPSA values and age at diagnosis.

The study found no significant differences in iPSA values and age at diagnosis between patients from higher income and lower income districts. Additionally, there were no significant differences among individual districts or between EU and non-EU nationals.

The findings suggest that the Austrian healthcare system provides equitable access to prostate cancer diagnostics across different socioeconomic groups.