Abstract
ABSTRACTIntroduction:Prostate cancer is one of the tumors with higher incidence and mortality among men in the World. Epidemiological data are influenced by life expectancy of population, available diagnostic methods, correct collection of data and quality of health services. Screening of the disease is not standardized around the World. Up till now there is no consensus about the risks versus benefits of early detection. There are still missing data about this pathology in Latin America.Objective:to revise current epidemiologic situation and early diagnosis policies of prostate cancer in Brazil and Latin America.Materials and Methods:Medline, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases were reviewed on the subject of epidemiology and screening of prostate cancer. Screening research was performed in websites on national public health organizations and Latin America. Screening recommendations were obtained from those governmental organizations and from Latin American urological societies and compared to the most prominent regulatory agencies and societies of specialists and generalists from around the World.Results:Brazil and Latin America have a special position in relation to incidence and mortality of prostate cancer. In Brazil, it occupies the first position regarding incidence of cancer in men and the second cause of mortality. Central America has the highest rate of mortality of the continent with lower incidence/mortality ratios. Screening recommendations are very distinct, mainly among regulatory organs and urological societies.Conclusion:prostate cancer epidemiology is an important health public topic. Data collection related to incidence and mortality is still precarious, especially in less developed countries. It is necessary to follow-up long term screening studies results in order to conclude its benefits.
Highlights
Prostate cancer is one of the tumors with higher incidence and mortality among men in the World
The purpose of the present study is to review the current epidemiologic situation and health policies on early detection of prostate cancer in Brazil and Latin America, in relation to the World
The increasing incidence of prostate cancer has been correlated to the increasing life expectancy of Brazilian population, to better assessment of medical data, to higher availability of diagnostic methods and overdiagnosis due to screening policies
Summary
Results: Brazil and Latin America have a special position in relation to incidence and mortality of prostate cancer. The incidence is quite variable around the World and influenced by life expectancy and diagnostic methods applied in each specific geographic region, as well as according to organization of epidemiological data. This is why we observe high incidence in developed regions. Mortality per region, influenced by the quality of available health services to population, is high among less developed countries In that matter, it is observed higher incidence/mortality rates in more developed regions (Figure-1)
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