The national and subnational burden of prostate cancer in Italy from 1990 to 2021: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Elisa Fabbro, Giulia Zamagni, Giulia Carreras, Luca Falzone, Silvano Gallus, Giuseppe Gorini, Paolo Lauriola, Carlo LA Vecchia, Caterina Ledda, Andrea Maugeri, Giuseppe Minervini, Mohsen Naghavi, Goran L Omer, Mario V Papa, Simone Perna, Lorenzo Monasta, Roberto Passera

Journal: Minerva urology and nephrology 2025;77(5):629-638

PMID: 41128031

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer globally and a major cause of disability and mortality. Survival rates heavily depend on the stage at which the disease is diagnosed, with substantial geographical variations in the burden of the disease.

METHODS

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021 provides detailed national and subnational estimates for the burden of PCa in Italy. This study reports incident cases and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), deaths and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR), as well as the average annual rate of change (ARC). The PCa-related survival is investigated using the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) for 1990 and 2021. Italian estimates were compared with Global and High-middle Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) countries.

RESULTS

GBD 2021 estimated 39,016 new PCa cases, 10,662 deaths, and 173,048 DALYs for Italy in 2021. The average ARC for ASIR was 0.14, while the average ARC for ASMR and ASDR were -0.29 and -0.31, respectively. MIR dropped from 38.0 in 1990 to 23.8 in 2021. At the subnational level, ASIR increased in seven regions, with no regions showing a decrease, while ASMR and ASDR fell significantly in 17 regions. Italy outperformed both global and high-middle SDI countries in reducing PCa mortality and improving survival rates.

CONCLUSIONS

PCa remains a critical health issue in Italy. The reduction in ASMR and ASDR indicates progress in early diagnosis and treatment. However, subnational disparities in incidence and mortality highlight the need for targeted healthcare interventions.

Address: Institute for Research and Innovative Technologies, Area Science Park, Trieste, Italy.; Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Research, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy - [email protected].; Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network, Florence, Italy.; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.; Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS Pascale, Naples, Italy.; Department of Medical Epidemiology, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy.; Oncological Network, Prevention and Research Institute, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network, Florence, Italy.; International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Arezzo, Italy.; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.; GF Ingrassia Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies University of Catania, Catania, Italy.; Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy.; Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.; Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.; Department of Surgery, Sulaimani University, Sulaimani, Iraq.; ENT Department, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.; University of Padua, Padua, Italy.; Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Research, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.; Department of Imaging, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6051.25.06400-6

MeSH Terms: Humans, Male, Italy, Prostatic Neoplasms, Global Burden of Disease, Incidence, Disability-Adjusted Life Years, Aged, Middle Aged, Survival Rate