Prostate cancer mortality in Taiwanese men: Increasing age-standardized trend in general population and increased risk in diabetic men

Abstract

Background. To evaluate the trend of prostate cancer mortality in Taiwanese general population and the association between diabetes and prostate cancer mortality.

Materials and methods. In the general population during 1995–2006, the trends of prostate cancer mortality were evaluated, followed by calculation of age-specific mortality rates for age 40–64, 65–74, and ≥ 75 years. A cohort of 102,651 diabetic men aged ≥ 40 years recruited in 1995–1998 was followed prospectively.

Results. The trends of crude and age-standardized mortality from prostate cancer in the general population increased significantly (P < 0.0001). In the general population, 7,966 men aged ≥ 40 years died of prostate cancer, and aging was associated with increased risk. Age-specific prostate cancer mortality suggested significantly increasing trend for ages 65–74 and ≥ 75 years. A total of 321 diabetic men died of prostate cancer (crude mortality rate 41.9/100,000 person-years). Mortality rate ratios (95% confidence interval) showed higher risk of prostate cancer mortality in the diabetic patients, with magnitude increased with decreasing age: 1.55 (1.29–1.86), 2.68 (2.29–3.13), and 6.84 (5.34–8.75) for age ≥ 75, 65–74, and 40–64 years, respectively.

Conclusions. Prostate cancer mortality in the Taiwanese general population is increasing. Diabetic patients have a higher risk of prostate cancer mortality, which is more remarkable with decreasing age.

Key words::

• Diabetes
• mortality
• mortality rate ratio
• prostate cancer
• underlying cause of death

Acknowledgements

The author thanks the following institutes in Taiwan for their continuous support on the epidemiologic studies of diabetes and arsenic-related health hazards: the New Century Health Care Promotion Foundation; the National Genotyping Center of National Research Program for Genomic Medicine, National Science Council; the Department of Health (DOH89-TD-1035; DOH97-TD-D-113-97009); the National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch (NTUHYL96.G001), and the National Science Council (NSC-86-2314-B-002-326, NSC-87-2314-B-002-245, NSC88-2621-B-002-030, NSC89-2320-B002-125, NSC-90-2320-B-002-197, NSC-92-2320-B-002-156, NSC-93-2320-B-002-071, NSC-94-2314-B-002-142, NSC-95-2314-B-002-311 and NSC-96-2314-B-002-061-MY2).

Declaration of interest: The author states no conflict of interest and has received no payment in preparation of this manuscript.