Association between sociodemographic characteristics and late diagnosis of prostate cancer: an observational study in three Colombian departments

Daniel A. Nieva-Posso, UROGIV Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali; Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad ICESI, Cali; Colombia
María A. Luna, Department of Epidemiology and Research, Grupo de Investigación Integral en Cáncer (GIIC), Instituto Oncologico Ospedale SAS, Popayan, Colombia
Claudia M. Pitto, Department of Epidemiology and Research, Grupo de Investigación Integral en Cáncer (GIIC), Instituto Oncologico Ospedale SAS, Popayan, Colombia
Janneth Lopez, Department of Epidemiology and Research, Grupo de Investigación Integral en Cáncer (GIIC), Instituto Oncologico Ospedale SAS, Popayan, Colombia
Herney A. García-Perdomo, UROGIV Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali; Department of Surgery, Division of Urology/Urooncology, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valle, Cali; Colombia

Objective: To estimate the association between sociodemographic characteristics of patients and prostate cancer in an advanced clinical stage in patients residing in three departments of Colombia. Method: We conducted a retrospective observational study to evaluate the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with prostate cancer diagnosed in advanced and early stages in Valle, Cauca, and Tolima. We classified patients into two groups: metastatic (IV) and non-metastatic (I-III). Based on the bivariate analysis, a logistics regression was performed to determine the odd ratios (OR) using the sociodemographic variables to establish the association with late diagnosis of prostate cancer. Results: A total of 475 patients were included, distributed in Valle 308 (64.8%), Cauca 106 (22.3%), and Tolima 61 (12.8%). With a mean age at diagnosis of 73.0 (8.68), 292 (61.5%) were classified as non-metastatic, and 183 (38.5%) were classified as metastatic. The central metastasis was in bone, with 129 (70.5%), mainly affecting vertebrae, the axial skeleton, and ribs. Rurality, affiliation to the subsidiary regime, and age are risk factors that influence the late diagnosis of prostate cancer (p < 0.05) and increase the risk of metastatic diagnosis in the general population. Logistic regression analysis showed that coming from an urban area is a protective factor for preventing late diagnosis of prostate cancer OR 4.59 (95% CI = 1.46-6.59). Conclusions: Sociodemographic characteristics directly influence the late diagnosis of prostate cancer, increasing the risk of metastatic diagnosis. Rurality, age, and affiliation status (mainly associated with income) are the social determinants that impact the population.

Keywords: Prostate cancer. Sociodemographic characteristics. Advanced prostate cancer.