International trends in prostate-cancer mortality: the decrease is continuing and spreading.
OBJECTIVE
To measure recent changes in prostate-cancer mortality across 24 developed countries.


METHODS
Mortality data for men aged 50-79 years were obtained from the World Health Organisation mortality database and we assessed trends in age-standardised mortality rates using joinpoint regression models.


RESULTS
Significant reductions in prostate-cancer mortality were observed in United Kingdom, United States, Austria, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Australia and Spain, and downward trends were also observable in the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden.


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality declines for prostate cancer are now evident in 12 out of the 24 developed countries considered in this analysis. Increases in PSA screening and better treatment of early-stage disease, possibly acting in combination, remain plausible hypotheses.
Baade
P D
PD
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Cancer Fund, PO Box 201, Spring Hill QLD 4004, Australia. peterb@qcfepi.org.au
Coory
M D
MD
Aitken
J F
JF
D000368:Aged; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D014944:World Health Organization
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen