Access to PSA Testing

This large U.S.-based cohort study examined how county-level prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening prevalence is associated with
prostate cancer outcomes among over 814,000 men diagnosed between 2000 and 2015. Key findings include:

Higher PSA screening prevalence was linked to:

• Lower odds of being diagnosed at an advanced cancer stage.
• Lower all-cause mortality.
• Lower prostate cancer–specific mortality.

These beneficial associations were strongest among:

• Hispanic men.
• Older individuals (≥70 years) for advanced disease.
• Younger individuals for mortality outcomes.
• Residents in the Northeast (advanced stage) and West (mortality).

Higher regional PSA screening rates were associated with better prostate cancer outcomes, though the impact varied by age, race/ethnicity, and geographic region. This suggests that targeted PSA screening strategies may benefit certain high-risk groups.

Lyer HS, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun
pMID:38833252