The incidence rate of prostate cancer in Saudi Arabia: an observational descriptive epidemiological analysis of data from the Saudi Cancer Registry 2001–2008

BackgroundThis study presents descriptive epidemiological data related to prostate cancer cases diagnosed from 2001 to 2008 among Saudi men, including the frequency and percentage of cases, the crude incidence rate (CIR) and the age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) adjusted by region and year of diagnosis.MethodsThis is a retrospective descriptive epidemiological analysis of all Saudi prostate cancer cases recorded in the Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) between January 2001 and December 2008. Statistical analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, the Poisson regression model, a simple linear regression model and analysis of variance with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 (SPSS).ResultsA total of 1739 cases were registered in the SCR between January 2001 and December 2008. The eastern region of Saudi Arabia had the highest overall ASIR at 10.1 per 100,000 men, followed by Riyadh at 7.1 and Makkah at 5.2, while Jizan and Najran had the lowest average ASIRs at 1.4 and at 2.0, respectively. The Poisson regression model for the region of Jizan shows that the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was significantly higher (p < 0.001); for the regions of Riyadh at 3.43 times (95% CI, 3.13–3.73), followed by Makkah at 2.56 (95% CI, 2.38–2.74) and the eastern province at 1.93 (95% CI, 1.64–2.23). The annual prediction of the CIR of prostate cancer in Saudi Arabia could be defined by the equation 1.53 + (0.094 × Years), and the prediction of the ASIR could be defined by the equation 2.98 + (0.182 × Years).ConclusionThere was a steady increase in the CIRs and ASIRs for prostate cancer between 2001 and 2008. The eastern region, Riyadh and Makkah had the highest overall ASIR in Saudi Arabia. Further effective screening programmes and active treatment measures are needed to control prostate cancer disease among Saudi men.