Faculty Collaboration Database

Treatment of localized prostate cancer in African-American compared with Caucasian men. Less use of aggressive therapy for comparable disease. Med Care 1995 Nov;33(11):1079-88

Date

11/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7475418

DOI

10.1097/00005650-199511000-00002

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029410709 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   65 Citations

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate differences in treatment for localized prostate cancer in African-American compared with Caucasian men. A cohort of patients was identified from the 1988-1989 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data base. Data were linked by county of residence to the Area Resource File. The main outcome measures were (1) the receipt of aggressive therapy (radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation) and (2) the treatment modality (radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation). Of 5,786 subjects, 15% were treated with a radical prostatectomy, 29% received external beam radiation, and 56% did not receive aggressive therapy. African Americans were less likely (relative risk 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.39, 0.54) than Caucasians to receive aggressive therapy. Among those receiving aggressive therapy, African Americans were less likely (relative risk 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.48, 0.86) than Caucasians to have a radical prostatectomy. Adjustment for patient, disease, and community health care availability characteristics did not change these results. We conclude that African-American and Caucasian men receive different treatments for localized prostate cancer. The reasons for the differences, and their ultimate effect on mortality and quality of life require further study.

Author List

Schapira MM, McAuliffe TL, Nattinger AB

Authors

Timothy L. McAuliffe PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Ann B. Nattinger MD, MPH Associate Provost, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cohort Studies
Confidence Intervals
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Prostatectomy
Prostatic Neoplasms
Quality of Life
Radioisotope Teletherapy
Risk