Prostate Cancer Detected by Screening in a Semi Urban Community in Southeast Nigeria: Correlations and Associations between Anthropometric Measurements and Prostate‑specific Antigen

Abstract

Context: Prostate cancer (PCa) is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages in Nigeria.

Aims: To determine the screen detected PCa prevalence in a suburban community and explore any relationships between prostate‑specific antigen (PSA) and anthropometric measurements.

Settings and Design: Nsukka is a town and local government area (LGA) in   Southeast Nigeria in Enugu State. Towns that share a common border with Nsukka are Edem Ani, Alor‑uno, Opi, Orba, and Ede‑Oballa. Nsukka LGA has an area of 1810 km² and a population of 309,633 at the 2006 census. All consecutive responders who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.

Subjects and Methods: A screening outreach was conducted in one location in Nsukka. PSA testing and digital rectal examinations were performed. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Statistical Analysis Used: Results were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY, USA). Categorical data were analyzed using the Chi‑square test, with significance level set at P < 0.05. Pearson’s correlation was conducted for interval data (P < 0.05).

Results: One‑hundred and sixty men met the inclusion criteria and were screened. Age range was 40–81 years; PSA range was 1.20–33.9 ng/ml. Digital rectal examinations (DREs) was abnormal in 17 men. Median BMI was 27.49. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between age and PSA, r = 0.127; P ≤ 0.05, and DRE findings and PSA, r = 0.178; P ≤ 0.05. There was no significant correlation between height and PSA, r = −0.99; P = 0.211; weight and PSA, r = −0. 81 P = 0.308; and BMI and PSA, r = −0.066; P = 0.407. 8/21 men consented to prostate biopsy with three positive, giving a screen detected PCa prevalence of 1.875%.

Conclusions: Screen detected PCa prevalence in high this population and efforts to improve early detection may be of value in improving treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Body mass index, Nigeria, prostate cancer, prostate‑specific antigen,
screen