Effects of age and co-morbidities on prostate cancer mortality

This article reviewed the effects of age and co-morbidities (co-existing medical conditions or diseases in addition to cancer) on mortality in prostate cancer patients. Mortality rates directly from prostate cancer (cancer specific mortality; CSM), and those from other causes (other cause mortality; OCM) were compared.

After undergoing radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland), survival of patients with prostate cancer depends on a number of factors. The influences of age, co-morbidities and other high-risk factors on mortality were evaluated in this study. High-risk factors include; high prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, high Gleason score and an advanced clinical stage.

Cases of mortality (death) were divided into those caused directly by the cancer (CSM), or those caused by co-morbidities and other cause (OCM).

This study evaluated 3828 men who underwent surgery for prostate cancer. Their disease history and medical files were analyzed over a period of ten years.

The study showed that, overall, more patients die from other causes (14.3%), than directly from their cancer (5.9%). This is especially true for older patients. OCM was 31.2% in patients older than 70 years of age, compared to a 12% CSM. Only in the case of young men with no other co-morbidities, was cancer the leading cause of death. In patients with no co-morbidities, old age did not change the rate of cancer related death.

In addition, patients with multiple high-risk factors had a higher CSM rate than those with only one risk factor.

In summary, most patients with prostate cancer at are a higher risk of death from co-morbidities, than as a result of the cancer itself. This finding was even more notable in older patients.

This review is limited by the fact that it did not take into account any treatments received.

Consult with your physician about how to reduce any additional risk factors to your wellbeing.