Incidence of prostate cancer in Eritrea: Data from the National Health Laboratory, Orotta Referral Hospital and Sembel Hospital 2011-2018

INTRODUCTION: Up-to-date statistics on prostate cancer incidence and causative risk factors are essential for the primary prevention of this disease. However, the incidence of Prostate cancer (ICD-10 code C61) (PCa), or cancers in general, are poorly documented in Eritrea. This study analyses the data available to produce an estimate of the incidence of PCa in Eritrea. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study by identifying all incident cases of PCa captured between 2011–2018 in the National Health Laboratory pathology database (Polytech 8.37.C); Urology departments of Orotta Referral Hospital and Sembel Hospital. Crude incidence rates (CIRs), age-adjusted rates per 100,000 person years and associated trends were subsequently calculated. Joinpoint Regression Program, V.4.5.0.1 was employed in these analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1721 cases were reported, of which 1593 (92.5%) were benign prostatic hypertrophy cases and 128 (7.5%) were PCa cases. The mean (±SD) age of the patients with PCa was 73.49 (± 8.9), confidence interval (CI) (54–98) and the minimum and maximum ages were 54 and 98, respectively. The median age interquartile ranges (IQR) was 73 (13) years. The highest and lowest PCa incidence rates were in 2017 (4.51 per 100 000) and 2014 (2.69 per 100 000), respectively. The age standardised rates (ASIR) (World) over the study period (2011–2018) was 30.26 per 100 000. The annualized ASIR values over the study period was 3.78 per 100 000. The associated average annual percentage change (APC) (CI) over the study period was 5.4 (-1.4–12.7), P-value = 0.100, showing a static trend over the study period. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that previous reports have under-estimated the incidence of PCa in Eritrea. The study provides ample evidence on the need for research targeted at uncovering the true burden of PCa in Eritrea. Potential solutions will require the establishment of high-quality population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) and long-term commitment to improvements in research, training, screening, diagnosis, and the overall management of PCa in the country.