There is a long-running debate over the screening recommendations set out by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) for prostate specific antigen (PSA). Less frequent screening for PSA can reduce the risk of over diagnoses as well as over treatment, but the benefits of infrequent PSA screening are still uncertain; there are concerns that those at a higher risk of cancer may receive delayed treatment due to irregular or infrequent screenings.
Each year, 30,000 male deaths can be attributed to prostate cancer, making it the second leading cause of death for men. Since the 1980s a 40 percent decline in prostate-cancer deaths has been noted, mainly due to PSA screening. In 2011 the USPSTF concluded that the harms outweighed the benefits when it came to PSA screening and decided against regular screening for it.
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Lead investigator, Daniel A. Barocas, said, “Our study was designed to assess the impact of the USPSTF recommendation on screening practices among urologists and primary care providers and the incidence of prostate cancer. We know there is decreased utilization of PSA testing in some institutions and health systems, but has the number of incident cases per month changed substantially since the draft guideline was issued?”
Investigators evaluated the recommendations set by the USPSTF along with incidences of prostate cancer across the U.S. They identified prostate cancer cases from January 2010 to December 2012 from the National Cancer Database, and then they assessed a trend in new cases of prostate cancer before and after the guideline provisions were made and compared the results with colon cancer cases.
The investigators noticed a drop in prostate cancer cases by 12 percent in the following month after the USPSTF guidelines came into effect. This number continued to fall to a reduction of 28 percent in new prostate cancer cases. Colon cancer cases did remain stable. Cases of low, medium and high risk prostate cancers decreased in diagnoses, but non-localized disease diagnoses did not change.
One year after the guidelines were implemented, low-risk cases continued to drop by 37.9 percent and to drop more rapidly compared with other diseases. Intermediate-risk cases dropped 28.1 percent and high-risk cases dropped 23.1 percent. The investigators report the drop in diagnoses for intermediate and higher-risk cases is due to missed opportunities and less frequent screenings.
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Dr. Barocas concluded, “While some of the effects of this guideline may be beneficial in terms of reducing harms of over diagnosis and overtreatment, the reduction in intermediate and high-risk cancer diagnoses raises concern for delayed diagnoses of important cancers associated with inferior cancer outcomes. Future research should focus on prostate cancer screening paradigms that both minimize harms and maximize the potential benefits of screening, as well as accounting for individual patient risk factors and preferences.”
Also read: Shift work does not increase risk of prostate cancer
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
