This study evaluated the rate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) dosage in men age 40 or older, affiliated to the general social security system in France between 2008 and 2010: 10.9 million men, excluding those with known prostate cancer.
In 2010, 30.7% of this male population had at least one dosage of PSA, i.e. 12.3% of those between 40 and 54, 47.7% of those between 55 and 74, and 47.6% of those 75 years old or older. Percentages of men who had at least one dosage in the three-year period were 26.2 %, 77.3 % and 75.6% for the same age brackets, respectively. Overall, 13% of men age 40 or older, and in particular 21% of men 75 years old or older had more than three PSA dosages during the three-year time period. Eighty-eight percent of PSA dosages performed in 2010 were prescribed by a general practitioner and 3.2% by an urologist. Conflicting with French and internationally published recommendations regarding PSA dosage, the present results demonstrate a shift toward chaotic mass screening of prostate cancer particularly in men aged 75 or older.
Written by:
Tuppin P, Samson S, Perrin P, Ruffion A, Millat B, Weill A, Ricordeau P, Allemand H. Are you the author?
CNAMTS (Caisse nationale d'assurance maladie des travailleurs salariés), 50, avenue du Professeur-André-Lemierre, 75986 Paris Cedex 20, France.
Reference: Bull Cancer. 2012 May 1;99(5):521-527.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22525252