Prostate cancer in Denmark: a 50-year population-based study

OBJECTIVES: To review the trends in prostate cancer (PC) incidence and mortality rates in Denmark during a 50-year period. METHODS: A population-based register study was performed of all new cases of PC recorded in the Danish Cancer Registry from 1943 to 1992. RESULTS: The age-standardized incidence rate for PC increased from 11.5/100,000 in 1943 to 1947 to 30.9/100,000 in 1988 to 1992. Age-specific incidence rates increased in all age groups over 50 years of age. Mortality rates increased from 13.5/100,000 in 1953 to 1957 to 17.8/100,000 in 1988 to 1992. No major changes in the distribution of age, stage at the time of diagnosis, or in diagnostic procedures were found, indicating that the observed change in incidence rates was not caused by attempted early detection or changes in diagnostic strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the increased PC incidence observed during the period of cancer registration in Denmark represents a true increase in the number of patients with clinical PC.