Income and prostate cancer survival linked

Prostate cancer patients with less money are more likely to die than those who are on higher incomes, a study has found.

According to a study to be published in Cancer in December, the findings indicate poor prostate cancer patients receive worse care than their wealthier counterparts, with their risk of dying increased two-fold by the socio-economic circumstances.

The study, based in Switzerland, was led by Elisabetta Rapiti, of the University of Geneva, who along with researchers conducted a study of 2,738 patients diagnosed with invasive prostate cancer between 1995 and 2005. They were then classified into high, medium or low socioeconomic status, based on their occupation.

The conclusion researchers made was that compared with patients of high socioeconomic status, those of low socioeconomic status were less likely to have their cancer detected by screening, had more advanced stages of cancer at diagnosis, and underwent fewer tests to characterize their cancer.

These patients were less likely to have their prostates removed and were more likely to be managed with watchful waiting, or careful monitoring.

Patients of low socioeconomic status also had a two-fold increased risk of dying from the disease.

'The increased mortality risk of patients of low socioeconomic status is almost completely explained by delayed diagnosis, poor work-up, and less complete treatment, indicating inequitable use of the health care system,' said Ms Rapiti.

The authors concluded that: 'Reducing health inequalities linked to socioeconomic status should receive high priority in public health policies, and that improving patients' access to prevention and early diagnostic tests and ensuring that they receive standard treatments could help reduce the socioeconomic differences seen in this study.'