Abstract
Objective
Guidelines recommend informed decision-making regarding prostate specific antigen
(PSA) screening for men with at least 10 years of remaining life expectancy (RLE). Comorbidity measures have been used to judge
RLE in previous studies, but assessments based on other common RLE measures are unknown.
We assessed whether screening rates varied based on four clinically relevant RLE measures,
including comorbidities, in a nationally-representative, community-based sample.
Materials and Methods
Using the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), we selected men
over 65 without prostate cancer (n=709). They were stratified into three RLE categories (0–7 years, 8–12 years, and 13+ years) based on validated measures of comorbidities, self-rated health status, functional
status, and physical performance. The independent relationship of each RLE measure
and a combined measure to screening was determined using multivariable logistic regressions.
Results
Self-rated health (OR=6.82; p<0.01) most closely correlated with RLE-based screening, while the comorbidity index
correlated the least (OR=1.50; p=0.09). The relationship of RLE to PSA screening significantly strengthened when controlling
for the number of doctor visits, particularly for comorbidities (OR=43.6; p<0.001). Men who had consistent estimates of less than 7 years RLE by all four measures had an adjusted PSA screening rate of 43.3%.
Conclusions
Regardless of the RLE measure used, men who were estimated to have limited RLE had
significant PSA screening rates. However, different RLE measures have different correlations
with PSA screening. Specific estimates of over-screening should therefore carefully
consider the RLE measure used.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 05, 2012
Accepted:
February 7,
2012
Received in revised form:
January 7,
2012
Received:
November 18,
2011
Footnotes
☆Funding: American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)-Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR); National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) (NIH-5R01 AG021487).
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
