The basis of presentation at advanced stage of prostate cancer disease and treatment outcomes at a teaching and referral hospital in Western Kenya

Abstract

Background: Patients with prostate cancer have generally been noted to present late for medical care. To understand the basis for advanced prostate cancer disease in Western Kenya region, we conducted a retrospective study to find out the various aspects of the problem and the effect on treatment outcome.
Objective: To identify the factors responsible for advanced prostate cancer disease as seen in a tertiary hospital in Western Kenya region and the treatment outcomes.
Design: Cross-sectional retrospective study between May 2019 and April 2023.
Setting: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
Site: The Health Records and Information Services department of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret-Kenya.
Subjects: Three hundred males histologically confirmed to have prostate cancer.
Results: The patient ages ranged between 51 years and 101 years with mean age ± standard deviation of 75.0 ± 8.4. Among these patients, 6.2% had a family history of prostate cancer. The majority (32.6%) had attained primary level of education and 4.7% had no formal education.
There were delays at patient level before seeking medical attention, within the referral system and at the tertiary facility due to investigations and bookings. These delays resulted in advanced disease with limited treatment options and poor outcomes of care.
Conclusion: The delays by patients prior to seeking medical attention, within the referral system and at the tertiary Centre contributed to patients with advanced prostate cancer disease. This led to limited options of treatment that were principally palliative with poor outcomes