title: [Impact of the weather on the serum levels of prostatic specific antigen (PSA)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the impact of season and weather parameters on serum PSA values in men without prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study including medical records from the Spanish arm of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  prostate cancer diagnosis, PSA > = 10 ng/ml, or PSA > = 3 ng/ml and/or digital rectal examination abnormalities unless a negative prostate biopsy was provided. Univariate relationships between PSA value, season and several weather parameters were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of a PSA value > = 3 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,147 men entered into the study. Median age and PSA level were 57 years and 0.9 ng/ml respectively. A non-significant trend to higher PSA levels was observed during autumn and winter. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified only maximum temperature (p < 0.001), minimum temperature (p = 0.001) and age (p < 0.001) as independent predictors of a PSA value > = 3 ng/ml. Mean age-adjusted PSA levels at maximum temperatures of < = 15 degrees C, 16-20 degrees C, 21-25 degrees C and > =26 degrees C were 1.25, 1.20, 1.17 and 1.09 ng/ml respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSA levels are slightly higher during cold weather conditions. Because of the small magnitude of this PSA increment we do not recommend to change biopsy indication based solely on climatic parameters.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España. marcoslujan@terra.es
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luján Galán
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pascual Mateo
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez García
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García Mediero
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pascual Durán
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paez Borda
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berenguer Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen