Epidemiological profile of prostate cancer in adults aged 20 to 59 years: an analysis of brazilian regions in the last 5 years

Keywords

prostate cancer - young men - prevalence - cancer epidemiology - mortality rate

Introduction: Prostate cancer represents the second most common tumor among men, second only behind non-melanoma skin tumors. According to the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), age is the primary risk factor for prostate cancer, with higher incidence in men starting from their seventh decade of life. Other risk factors include a family history of prostate cancer before the age of 60 and obesity, particularly for advanced histological types. In the early stages, prostate cancer may not present symptoms, but when it does, common signs include difficulty urinating, hematuria, weak urine stream, frequent urination, and hesitancy. Diagnosis is confirmed through a biopsy, which is recommended when there are alterations in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels or abnormalities detected during a rectal examination. Although typically associated with older age groups, prostate cancer diagnoses are not uncommon in younger men.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the prevalence of prostate cancer cases and mortality rates among men aged 20 to 59 in different regions of Brazil between 2019 and 2023.

Methodology: The study is an ecological, retrospective, and descriptive epidemiological analysis based on data collected from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) through the Department of Health Information of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) during the specified period. The focus is on the number of hospitalizations and mortality related to prostate cancer.

Results: Over the past five years, there were a total of 23,875 hospitalizations. The Southeast region was the most affected, accounting for 53.10% of hospitalizations, while the North region had the lowest impact, with only 2.87%. The Southeast also had the highest absolute number of deaths, totaling 530 cases (46.94%), but had the lowest mortality rate (4.18). The highest mortality rate occurred in the North region, reaching 8.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. The age group most affected was 50 to 59 years old, representing the highest absolute number of deaths (1,001 cases, 88%). Interestingly, the age group with the highest mortality rate was 30 to 39 years old, with 8.89 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Conclusion: This study evinces the relevance of prostate cancer even in younger patients. Despite not being the most commonly affected age group, epidemiological data illustrate the importance of early diagnosis and clinical suspicion, given the mortality rates among young men.

Corresponding author: Henrique Augusto Barcelos Knaack (e-mail: [e-mail]).

 

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
06 May 2025