Health care costs are directly influenced by the age at and years from diagnosis. Prevalence of invasive prostate cancer in the United States is presented according to age at diagnosis, time from diagnosis, geographic area, and two races (white and black). A new method for partitioning prevalence is applied to invasive prostate cancer data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute. Despite falling prostate cancer incidence rates, the prevalence of this disease continues to rise for both white and black men. Blacks diagnosed at ages 60 years and older experience lower levels of prevalence of prostate cancer than whites because of poorer survival and relatively fewer blacks living to older ages where the disease becomes common. Blacks require fewer years of follow-up than whites to capture over 99% of prevalent cases (i.e., 14 years versus 16 years, respectively). Prevalence estimates in the United States are traditionally based on Connecticut data. United States prostate cancer prevalence estimates based on Connecticut versus SEER are considerably different, particularly for blacks. This study illustrates that partitioned prevalence estimates based on SEER data may provide a more meaningful and useful measure of the disease burden than traditional prevalence estimates.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to: 1. Discuss why a point prevalence proportion is a measure of burden; 2. Identify how partitioned prevalence by age at and years from diagnosis may provide a clearer understanding of the burden of disease in terms of health care expenditures; 3. Understand the effect recent dramatic changes in prostate cancer incidence rates have had on the prevalence of this disease
Keywords: Cancer, Public Policy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.