Time trends and variation in the use of active surveillance for management of low-risk prostate cancer in the U.S.

A study including several members of PCASP (Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Project) on which Dr. Catalona is a co-author reported on the variation in the use of active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer in the U.S. They evaluated 20,809 patients in the American Urological Associations AQUA Registry diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer and had known primary treatment. The rates of adopting active surveillance increased sharply and consistently from 26.5% in 2014 to 59.6% in 2021. However, the use of active surveillance varied from 4% to 78% at the urology practice level and from 0% to 100% at the practitioner level. The factor most strongly associated with the adoption of active surveillance was the year of diagnosis, but patient age, race, and PSA value at diagnosis were also associated with the use of active surveillance.

JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(3):e231439