Patterns of prostate-specific antigen levels for early detection of prostate cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

e22501 Background: Prostate cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among men in sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to late presentation and limited access to screening. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is widely used for early detection; however, community-based data on PSA patterns in the region are limited. This study investigates the pattern of PSA in a community-based screening program in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated PSA levels among men in Ilesa West, Osun State, Nigeria. Following informed consent, 81 participants were enrolled. Serum PSA levels were measured and categorized, while demographic data and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests in SPSS, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Elevated PSA levels (≥4 ng/mL) were observed in 17 men (21%). Prostate-specific antigen levels were distributed as follows: 0.5–2.4 ng/mL (65.4%), 2.5–3.9 ng/mL (13.6%), 4.0–9.9 ng/mL (18.5%), and ≥10.0 ng/mL (2.5%). The age-specific distribution of mean PSA levels was: <50 years (1.86 ± 0.31 ng/mL), 50–59 years (2.35 ± 0.46 ng/mL), 60–69 years (3.14 ± 0.50 ng/mL), 70–79 years (3.44 ± 1.37 ng/mL), and ≥80 years (8.40 ± 1.54 ng/mL). Prostate-specific antigen levels were significantly higher among men aged ≥50 years (p<0.05). Additionally, men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) had significantly higher PSA levels compared with those without symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusions: Prostate-specific antigen levels increased with age and the presence of LUTS, with over one-fifth of participants exhibiting elevated values. These findings support targeted community-based PSA screening to enhance early detection of prostate cancer in Nigeria and similar resource-limited settings.