Prostate cancer screening in Nigeria: Findings from a multi-city community-based PSA testing outreach.

Abstract

e13597 Background: Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of malignancy-related mortality among Nigerian men. The rising incidence and mortality rates across Africa are largely attributed to late-stage presentation and a lack of early detection infrastructure. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing provides a cost-effective method to identify high-risk individuals (PSA > 4 ng/mL). This study analyzes PSA data from a multi-site screening event to identify health trends and inform future screening strategies in resource-limited settings. Methods: In February 2023, a community outreach event ("More Time for Life") screened 262 men for prostate cancer and comorbidities across three Nigerian cities: Abuja (n = 86), Lagos (n = 56), and Port Harcourt (n = 120). PSA values were analyzed using STATA to generate descriptive statistics across age cohorts (40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70–79). Results: PSA levels increased with age across all screening sites, correlating with established clinical trends. While men with elevated blood pressure generally had higher PSA levels, a t-test (p = 0.83) showed no statistically significant association, likely due to the limited sample size. Geographic disparities were significant: the proportion of men with PSA > 4 ng/mL in Port Harcourt was nearly three times higher than those in Abuja. Additionally, Port Harcourt recorded the highest average BMI among participants. All individuals identified with elevated PSA levels were referred to tertiary centers for further clinical assessment. Conclusions: This community-based screening outreaches demonstrate the feasibility of multi-city PSA testing to identify geographic and demographic patterns of prostate cancer risk in resource-limited settings. Significant geographic variations in PSA levels suggest that environmental factors, such as high levels of air pollution in regions like Port Harcourt, may influence cancer risk and merit further investigation. These findings underscore the potential for self-care and out-of-facility interventions to enhance chronic disease management and early cancer detection.