Relationship Between Baseline Prostate-specific Antigen on Cancer Detection and Prostate Cancer Death: Long-term Follow-up from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The European Association of Urology guidelines recommend a risk-based strategy for prostate cancer screening based on the first prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and age. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the first PSA level on prostate cancer (PCa) detection and PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) in a population-based screening trial (repeat screening every 2-4 yr). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We evaluated 25589 men aged 55-59 yr, 16898 men aged 60-64 yr, and 12936 men aged 65-69 yr who attended at least one screening visit in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) trial (screening arm: repeat PSA testing every 2-4 yr and biopsy in cases with elevated PSA; control arm: no active screening offered) during 16-yr follow-up (FU). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: We assessed the actuarial probability for any PCa and for clinically significant (cs)PCa (Gleason ≥7). Cox proportional-hazards regression was performed to assess whether the association between baseline PSA and PCSM was comparable for all age groups. A Lorenz curve was computed to assess the association between baseline PSA and PCSM for men aged 60-61 yr. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The overall actuarial probability at 16 yr ranged from 12% to 16% for any PCa and from 3.7% to 5.7% for csPCa across the age groups. The actuarial probability of csPCa at 16 yr ranged from 1.2-1.5% for men with PSA <1.0 ng/ml to 13.3-13.8% for men with PSA ≥3.0 ng/ml. The association between baseline PSA and PCSM differed marginally among the three age groups. A Lorenz curve for men aged 60-61 yr showed that 92% of lethal PCa cases occurred among those with PSA above the median (1.21 ng/ml). In addition, for men initially screened at age 60-61 yr with baseline PSA <2 ng/ml, further continuation of screening is unlikely to be beneficial after the age of 68-70 yr if PSA is still <2 ng/ml. No case of PCSM emerged in the subsequent 8 yr (up to age 76-78 yr). A limitation is that these results may not be generalizable to an opportunistic screening setting or to contemporary clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: In all age groups, baseline PSA can guide decisions on the repeat screening interval. Baseline PSA of <1.0 ng/ml for men aged 55-69 yr is a strong indicator to delay or stop further screening. PATIENT SUMMARY: In prostate cancer screening, the patient's baseline PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level can be used to guide decisions on when to repeat screening. The PSA test when used according to current knowledge is valuable in helping to reduce the burden of prostate cancer.

Intervention-related Deaths in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Identification of intervention-related deaths is important for an accurate assessment of the ratio of benefit to harm in screening trials. OBJECTIVE: To investigate intervention-related deaths by study arm in the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer Screening (ERSPC). DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: ERSPC is a multicenter trial initiated in the 1990s to investigate whether screening on the basis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can decrease prostate cancer mortality. The present study included men in the core age group (55-69 yr: screening group n = 112 553, control group n = 128 681) with 16-yr follow-up. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Causes of death among men with prostate cancer in ERSPC were predominantly evaluated by independent national committees via review of medical records according to a predefined algorithm. Intervention-related deaths were defined as deaths caused by complications during the screening procedure, treatment, or follow-up. Descriptive statistics were used for the results. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In total, 34 deaths were determined to be intervention-related, of which 21 were in the screening arm and 13 in the control arm. The overall risk of intervention-related death was 1.41 (95% confidence interval 0.99-1.99) per 10 000 randomized men for both arms combined and varied among centers from 0 to 7.0 per 10 000 randomized men. A limitation of this study is that differences in procedures among centers decreased the comparability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention-related deaths were rare in ERSPC. Monitoring of intervention-related deaths in screening trials is important for assessment of harms. PATIENT SUMMARY: We investigated deaths due to screening or treatment to assess harm in a trial of prostate cancer screening. Few such deaths were identified.

Seguimiento a largo plazo de la incurvación peneana congénita tratada mediante rotación de los cuerpos cavernosos / Long term results of congenital penile curvature treated with cavernosa corpora rotation

INTRODUCCIÓN: La incurvación peneana congénita (IPC) es un trastorno originado por una alteración en el desarrollo embrionario de la uretra y los cuerpos cavernosos, que condiciona dificultad para la penetración, precisando corrección quirúrgica cuando imposibilita el coito. OBJETIVO: Analizar los resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de la IPC mediante rotación de los cuerpos cavernosos (RCC) descrita y modificada por Shaeer. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Diez pacientes diagnosticados de IPC con imposibilidad para el coito, fueron intervenidos en un período de 36 meses. Previo a la intervención aplicamos el cuestionario IIEF-5, medimos la longitud del pene y el ángulo de incurvación mediante autofotografías en tres proyecciones. Mediante abordaje subcoronal realizamos el denudamiento del pene. A ambos lados de la uretra incidimos la fascia de Buck y liberamos el paquete vasculonervioso desde la cara ventral hasta dorsal. Generamos una erección artificial evidenciando la incurvación. En la cara dorsal deambos cuerpos cavernosos realizamos dos incisiones longitudinales en la capa longitudinal externa de la túnica albugínea. Suturamos los bordes internos y externosde ambas incisiones entre sí con una sutura continuade monofilamento irreabsorbible de 4/0, comprobando mediante una erección artificial la corrección de la incurvación. Los pacientes fueron dados de alta al día siguiente de la intervención. Al sexto mes se determinaron la longitud e incurvación peneanas, y el cuestionario IIEF-5. Para la comparación de medias utilizamos el test de la U de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: La edad media fue 26,8 años. El seguimiento promedio fue 20,7 meses (12-31) y la mediana 24. Antes de la intervención la incurvación media fue 68,5° (50-90°); la longitud media 14,2 cm (10-18) yel IIEF-5 de 21. Tras la intervención la longitud media fue 13,7 cm, la incurvación residual 25. No existieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la longitud peneana pre y postquirúrgica, (p = 0,08). Nueve pacientes aseguraron que volverían asometerse a la misma intervención. CONCLUSIONES: La RCC constituye una alternativa terapéutica eficaz a las técnicas de plicatura o alargamiento de la túnica albugínea para el tratamiento de la IPC, manteniendo sus resultados a largo plazo

INTRODUCTION: Congenital penile curvature (PCC) is a disorder caused by an alteration in the embryonic development of the urethra and the corporacavernosa, which causes difficulty in penetration, requiring surgical correction when inter course is impossible. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of the surgical treatment of the IPC by means of rotation of the corpora cavernosa (RCC) described and modified by Shaeer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients diagnosed with PCC with impossibility to inter course, were operated in a period of 36 months. Prior to the intervention,we applied the IIEF-5 questionnaire, measured the length of the penis and the angle of curvature throughself-photographs in three projections. By subcoronal approach,we perform denudation of the penis. On both sides of the urethra we incised Buck’s fascia and released the neurovascular bundle from the ventral to the dorsal side. We generate an artificial erection evidencing the curvature. On the dorsal aspect of both corpora cavernosa, we made two incisions in the external longitudinal layer of the tunica albuginea. We sutured the internal and external edges of both incisions together with a 4/0 non-reabsorbable monofilament continuous suture, checking the correction of the curvature by means of an artificial erection. The patients were discharged the day after the intervention. The penile length and curvature were determined in the sixth month, and the IIEF-5 questionnaire. For the comparison of means we used the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The mean age was 26.8 years. The average follow-up was 20.7 months (12-31) and the median was 24. Before the intervention, the average curvature was 68.5° (50-90°); the average length 14.2 cm (10-18) and the IIEF-5 of 21. After surgery, the average length was 13.7 cm, the residual curvature the IIEF-5 of 25. There were no statistically significant differences between pre and postoperative penile length, (p = 0.08). Nine patients assured that they would under go the same intervention again. CONCLUSIONS: RCC is an effective therapeutic alternative to the techniques of plication or lengthening of the tunica albuginea for the treatment of PCC, main tainingits long-term results

Prolapso uretral, ¿es necesario el tratamiento quirúrgico? / Urethral prolapse, is surgical treatment necessary?

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A 16-yr Follow-up of the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) has previously demonstrated that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening decreases prostate cancer (PCa) mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether PSA screening decreases PCa mortality for up to 16yr and to assess results following adjustment for nonparticipation and the number of screening rounds attended. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicentre population-based randomised screening trial was conducted in eight European countries. Report includes 182160 men, followed up until 2014 (maximum of 16yr), with a predefined core age group of 162389 men (55-69yr), selected from population registry. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The outcome was PCa mortality, also assessed with adjustment for nonparticipation and the number of screening rounds attended. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The rate ratio of PCa mortality was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72-0.89, p<0.001) at 16yr. The difference in absolute PCa mortality increased from 0.14% at 13yr to 0.18% at 16yr. The number of men needed to be invited for screening to prevent one PCa death was 570 at 16yr compared with 742 at 13yr. The number needed to diagnose was reduced to 18 from 26 at 13yr. Men with PCa detected during the first round had a higher prevalence of PSA >20ng/ml (9.9% compared with 4.1% in the second round, p<0.001) and higher PCa mortality (hazard ratio=1.86, p<0.001) than those detected subsequently. CONCLUSIONS: Findings corroborate earlier results that PSA screening significantly reduces PCa mortality, showing larger absolute benefit with longer follow-up and a reduction in excess incidence. Repeated screening may be important to reduce PCa mortality on a population level. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we looked at the outcomes from prostate cancer in a large European population. We found that repeated screening reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer.

Cribado del cáncer de próstata con antígeno específico prostático en varones mayores de 75 años / Prostate-specific antigen screening for prostate cancer in males older than 75 years

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Evaluation of the Quality of Semen and Sexual Function in Men with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Data on fertility rates and medication safety in men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a seminal alteration in patients with IBD and, if so, to evaluate the mechanisms that may play a role according to what has been described in the literature. Its secondary aim was to evaluate the impact on male sexual function of IBD. METHODS: Multicenter, cross-sectional, case series study comparing men with IBD and control subjects. Semen analysis was performed according to the recommendations of World Health Organization. The impact on male sexual function was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, patients with Crohn's disease had lower sperm concentrations compared with those with ulcerative colitis (median [interquartile range], 34.5 [19.2-48] versus 70 [34.5-127.5], P = 0.02) and lower seminal zinc levels (mean ± SD, 1475 ± 235 µmol/L versus 2221 ± 1123 µmol/L, P = 0.04). Patients with Crohn's disease on anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment had better progressive motility (mean ± SD, 56.7 ± 17.7 versus 35.1 ± 22.1, P = 0.01) and sperm morphology (14.4 ± 7.1 versus 7.6 ± 4.9, P = 0.04) than those who were not on anti-tumor necrosis factor. Regarding sexual function, no significant differences were found across patients with IBD and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Men with Crohn's disease showed a trend toward poorer semen quality than those with ulcerative colitis. Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs does not seem to be associated with poor sperm quality. In patients in clinical remission, male sexual function is not affected by IBD.

Impact of cause of death adjudication on the results of the European prostate cancer screening trial.

BACKGROUND: The European Randomised Study of Prostate Cancer Screening has shown a 21% relative reduction in prostate cancer mortality at 13 years. The causes of death can be misattributed, particularly in elderly men with multiple comorbidities, and therefore accurate assessment of the underlying cause of death is crucial for valid results. To address potential unreliability of end-point assessment, and its possible impact on mortality results, we analysed the study outcome adjudication data in six countries. METHODS: Latent class statistical models were formulated to compare the accuracy of individual adjudicators, and to assess whether accuracy differed between the trial arms. We used the model to assess whether correcting for adjudication inaccuracies might modify the study results. RESULTS: There was some heterogeneity in adjudication accuracy of causes of death, but no consistent differential accuracy by trial arm. Correcting the estimated screening effect for misclassification did not alter the estimated mortality effect of screening. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings were consistent with earlier reports on the European screening trial. Observer variation, while demonstrably present, is unlikely to have materially biased the main study results. A bias in assigning causes of death that might have explained the mortality reduction by screening can be effectively ruled out.

Estimating the harms and benefits of prostate cancer screening as used in common practice versus recommended good practice: A microsimulation screening analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and concomitant treatment can be implemented in several ways. The authors investigated how the net benefit of PSA screening varies between common practice versus "good practice." METHODS: Microsimulation screening analysis (MISCAN) was used to evaluate the effect on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) if 4 recommendations were followed: limited screening in older men, selective biopsy in men with elevated PSA, active surveillance for low-risk tumors, and treatment preferentially delivered at high-volume centers. Outcomes were compared with a base model in which annual screening started at ages 55 to 69 years and were simulated using data from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer. RESULTS: In terms of QALYs gained compared with no screening, for 1000 screened men who were followed over their lifetime, recommended good practice led to 73 life-years (LYs) and 74 QALYs gained compared with 73 LYs and 56 QALYs for the base model. In contrast, common practice led to 78 LYs gained but only 19 QALYs gained, for a greater than 75% relative reduction in QALYs gained from unadjusted LYs gained. The poor outcomes for common practice were influenced predominantly by the use of aggressive treatment for men with low-risk disease, and PSA testing in older men also strongly reduced potential QALY gains. CONCLUSIONS: Commonly used PSA screening and treatment practices are associated with little net benefit. Following a few straightforward clinical recommendations, particularly greater use of active surveillance for low-risk disease and reducing screening in older men, would lead to an almost 4-fold increase in the net benefit of prostate cancer screening. Cancer 2016;122:3386-3393. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Absolute Effect of Prostate Cancer Screening: Balance of Benefits and Harms by Center within the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer Screening.

PURPOSE: The balance of benefits and harms in prostate cancer screening has not been sufficiently characterized. We related indicators of mortality reduction and overdetection by center within the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer Screening (ERSPC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We analyzed the absolute mortality reduction expressed as number needed to invite (NNI = 1/absolute risk reduction; indicating how many men had to be randomized to screening arm to avert a prostate cancer death) for screening and the absolute excess of prostate cancer detection as number needed for overdetection (NNO = 1/absolute excess incidence; indicating the number of men invited per additional prostate cancer case), and compared their relationship across the seven ERSPC centers. RESULTS: Both absolute mortality reduction (NNI) and absolute overdetection (NNO) varied widely between the centers: NNI, 200-7,000 and NNO, 16-69. Extent of overdiagnosis and mortality reduction was closely associated [correlation coefficient, r = 0.76; weighted linear regression coefficient, ß = 33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5-62; R(2) = 0.72]. For an averted prostate cancer death at 13 years of follow-up, 12 to 36 excess cases had to be detected in various centers. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the ERSPC centers likely reflect variations in prostate cancer incidence and mortality, as well as in screening protocol and performance. The strong interrelation between the benefits and harms suggests that efforts to maximize the mortality effect are bound to increase overdiagnosis and might be improved by focusing on high-risk populations. The optimal balance between screening intensity and risk of overdiagnosis remains unclear.

Metastatic Prostate Cancer Incidence and Prostate-specific Antigen Testing: New Insights from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) has shown a 21% reduction in prostate cancer (PCa) mortality and a 1.6-fold increase in PCa incidence with prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening (at 13 yr of follow-up). We evaluated PCa incidence by risk category at diagnosis across the study arms to assess the potential impact on PCa mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Information on arm, centre, T and M stage, Gleason score, serum PSA at diagnosis, age at randomisation, follow-up time, and vital status were extracted from the ERSPC database. Four risk categories at diagnosis were defined: 1, low; 2, intermediate; 3, high; 4, metastatic disease. PSA (≤100 or >100 ng/ml) was used as the indicator of metastasis. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for screening versus control arm by risk category at diagnosis and follow-up time were calculated using Poisson regression analysis for seven centres. Follow-up was truncated at 13 yr. Missing data were imputed using chained equations. The analyses were carried out on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In the screening arm, 7408 PCa cases were diagnosed and 6107 in the control arm. The proportion of missing stage, Gleason score, or PSA value was comparable in the two arms (8% vs 10%), but differed among centres. The IRRs were elevated in the screening arm for the low-risk (IRR: 2.14; 95% CI, 2.03-2.25) and intermediate-risk (IRR: 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.34) categories at diagnosis, equal to unity for the high-risk category at diagnosis (IRR: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89-1.13), and reduced for metastatic disease at diagnosis (IRR: 0.60; 95% CI, 0.52-0.70). The IRR of metastatic disease had temporal pattern similar to mortality, shifted forwards an average of almost 3 yr, although the mortality reduction was smaller. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm a reduction in metastatic disease at diagnosis in the screening arm, preceding mortality reduction by almost 3 yr. PATIENT SUMMARY: The findings of this study indicate that the decrease in metastatic disease at diagnosis is the major determinant of the prostate cancer mortality reduction in the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

[High resolution for all in the clinics área of a Urology Department]. / Alta resolución para todos en el área de consultas de un Servicio de Urología.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of a one-stop clinic in terms of proportion of diagnostic-therapeutic orientation during 2013. METHODS: All patients were referred from primary care facilities in the district of Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain (population 221.705). Previously, referral protocols were agreed. Seven senior urologists participated. 6674 referrals (January-December 2013) were eligible. RESULTS: 4534 referrals (4535/6674, 68%) were eventually evaluable. Patients taking advantage of the one-stop format were significantly younger than those needing extra consultations (chi2<0,001). Overall, reasons for consultation clearly affected the feasibility of the one-stop approach (chi2<0.001), the one-stop policy being substantiated in most consultations due to subfertility (89.4%), male sexual dysfunction (89.2%), testicular complains (88.3%) and other male genital complains (80.3%). On the contrary, extra consultations were the rule for degenerative diseases of the urinary tract (45%), malignancy (57%) and renal colic pain or urinary lithiasis (63.2%). No relationships could be identified between the referral centre and the feasibility of the one-stop approach (p=ns). The multivariate analysis confirmed the independent effect of the health problem (p<0.001) and patient age (p<0002) on the chances of having a successful one-stop approach. CONCLUSIONS: a one-stop philosophy should be the standard for all patients in urology clinics.

Alta resolución para todos en el área de consultas de un Servicio de Urología / High resolution for all in the clinics área of a Urology Department

OBJETIVO: Conseguir la orientación diagnóstico-terapéutica de todos los pacientes atendidos por primera vez en la consulta general de un servicio de urología tras una única visita. MÉTODOS: Las derivaciones bajo análisis procedieron de los servicios de Atención Primaria del distrito de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, España (221.705 habitantes). Participaron en la experiencia siete urólogos senior. Previo a la activación del programa se consensuaron con Atención Primaria los criterios para la remisión de pacientes al servicio de urología. Para este estudio se analizó el resultado de las 6.674 primeras visitas consecutivas que tuvieron lugar en el año 2013. RESULTADOS: Finalmente, resultaron evaluables 4.534 derivaciones (4.534/6.674, 68%). En el 77% de los casos se consiguió la orientación diagnóstico-terapéutica tras una única visita. Se detectó una clara relación entre la edad y la resolución del caso (chi2<0,001). Como era previsible, el problema de salud condicionó grandes diferencias en la capacidad resolutiva (chi2<0,001), de manera que la mayor parte de las consultas motivadas por subfertilidad (89,4%), disfunción eréctil (89,2%) y patología testicular (88,3%) pudieron ser resueltas; por el contrario, la resolución del problema de salud tras una única visita no fue la norma en los casos de trastornos degenerativos del aparato urinario (45%), malignidad-sospecha de malignidad (57%) y cálculo urinario-crisis renoureteral (63,2%). El centro de AP de procedencia del paciente no pareció condicionar la posibilidad de resolución (p=ns). Finalmente, el análisis multivariado confirmó el valor predictivo independiente del problema de salud (p < 0,001) y de la edad del paciente (p < 0,002) a la hora de conseguir la orientación diagnóstico-terapéutica tras una única visita. CONCLUSIONES: La alta resolución puede generalizarse a todos los pacientes que consultan por primera vez en un Servicio de Urología

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of a one-stop clinic in terms of proportion of diagnostic therapeutic orientation during 2013. METHODS: All patients were referred from primary care facilities in the district of Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain (population 221.705). Previously, referral protocols were agreed. Seven senior urologists participated. 6674 referrals (January-December 2013) were eligible. RESULTS: 4534 referrals (4535/6674, 68%) were eventually evaluable. Patients taking advantage of the one-stop format were significantly younger than those needing extra consultations (chi2<0,001). Overall, reasons for consultation clearly affected the feasibility of the one-stop approach (chi2<0.001), the one-stop policy being substantiated in most consultations due to subfertility (89.4%), male sexual dysfunction (89.2%), testicular complains (88.3%) and other male genital complains (80.3%). On the contrary, extra consultations were the rule for degenerative diseases of the urinary tract (45%), malignancy (57%) and renal colic painor urinary lithiasis (63.2%). No relationships could be identified between the referral centre and the feasibility of the one-stop approach (p=ns). The multivariate analysis confirmed the independent effect of the health problem (p < 0.001) and patient age (p<0002) on the chances of having a successful onestop approach. CONCLUSIONS: a one-stop philosophy should be the standard for all patients in urology clinics

Radiofrequency-treated recurrence of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract after nephroureterectomy.

Local recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) owing to urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract is rare. The usual treatment is systemic chemotherapy followed by optional resection of the mass. We introduce the case of a 73-year-old male patient with multiple comorbidities in whom retroperitoneal carcinoma recurrence of 31 mm was diagnosed via positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose about 5 years after he had undergone RNU owing to urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. The patient was treated with computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. Later scans with contrast controls showed lack of contrast uptake and a decrease of the lesion's size. Twenty-four months after the procedure, the patient is free of the disease. To date, this is the first case of recurrence of urothelial carcinoma that was treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, thus establishing an alternative to chemotherapy in patients with substantial comorbidities.

Screening and prostate cancer mortality: results of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) at 13 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The European Randomised study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) has shown significant reductions in prostate cancer mortality after 9 years and 11 years of follow-up, but screening is controversial because of adverse events such as overdiagnosis. We provide updated results of mortality from prostate cancer with follow-up to 2010, with analyses truncated at 9, 11, and 13 years. METHODS: ERSPC is a multicentre, randomised trial with a predefined centralised database, analysis plan, and core age group (55-69 years), which assesses prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in eight European countries. Eligible men aged 50-74 years were identified from population registries and randomly assigned by computer generated random numbers to screening or no intervention (control). Investigators were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was prostate cancer mortality in the core age group. Analysis was by intention to treat. We did a secondary analysis that corrected for selection bias due to non-participation. Only incidence and no mortality data at 9 years' follow-up are reported for the French centres. This study is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN49127736. FINDINGS: With data truncated at 13 years of follow-up, 7408 prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the intervention group and 6107 cases in the control group. The rate ratio of prostate cancer incidence between the intervention and control groups was 1·91 (95% CI 1·83-1·99) after 9 years (1·64 [1·58-1·69] including France), 1·66 (1·60-1·73) after 11 years, and 1·57 (1·51-1·62) after 13 years. The rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality was 0·85 (0·70-1·03) after 9 years, 0·78 (0·66-0·91) after 11 years, and 0·79 (0·69-0·91) at 13 years. The absolute risk reduction of death from prostate cancer at 13 years was 0·11 per 1000 person-years or 1·28 per 1000 men randomised, which is equivalent to one prostate cancer death averted per 781 (95% CI 490-1929) men invited for screening or one per 27 (17-66) additional prostate cancer detected. After adjustment for non-participation, the rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality in men screened was 0·73 (95% CI 0·61-0·88). INTERPRETATION: In this update the ERSPC confirms a substantial reduction in prostate cancer mortality attributable to testing of PSA, with a substantially increased absolute effect at 13 years compared with findings after 9 and 11 years. Despite our findings, further quantification of harms and their reduction are still considered a prerequisite for the introduction of populated-based screening. FUNDING: Each centre had its own funding responsibility.

[Final results of an initiative aiming to improve the referrals from primary care to a Department of Urology]. / Resultados finales de un programa para la mejora de las derivaciones desde las unidades de atención primaria a un Servicio de Urología.

OBJECTIVES: To test two interventions aiming at improving the compliance of primary health care physicians with an agreed-on protocol of referrals to a urology department. METHODS: Joint formative meetings (every six months) were celebrated throughout a 24-month period. Also a counseling telephone line was implemented. 18.088 referrals were analyzed. The effect of both expositions was tested comparing basal data (T0) with the performance at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months later (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). An additional comparison was conducted to approach the results 1 year after the study ended (T5). RESULTS: 61.7% of the referrals at baseline complied with the protocol. A significant improvement was detected at T1 (compliance 73.4%, RR with respect to T0 1.19, 95% CI 1.14- 1.23). At T2, 73.7% of referrals were adequate (RR with respect to T0 1.19, 95% CI 1.15-1.24). The percent of adequate referrals at T3 remained stable (73.4%, RR with respect to T0 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.23). Nevertheless, adequacy of referrals by the end of the second year (T4) significantly decreased (67.3%, RR with respect to T0, 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.12). Adequacy at T5 was almost identical to the basal (64.4%, RR with respect to T0, 1.04 95% CI 1.04-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Learning activities can be effective in improving the quality of referrals from primary care to one urology department. Stopping the activities entails an immediate return to the basal standards.

Resultados finaels de un programa apra la mejora de las derivaciones desde las unidades de atención primaria a un servicio de urologia / Final results of an initiative aiming to improve the referrals from primary care to a departament of urology

OBJETIVO: Analizar el efecto de dos intervenciones formativas orientadas a mejorar la adhesión a un protocolo de derivación desde Atención Primaria (AP) a un servicio de urología. MÉTODOS: Se celebraron reuniones de trabajo cada seis meses, por espacio de 24 meses, con la participación de urólogos y médicos de AP. Además, se habilitó un sistema de información permanente para profesionales. La valoración del efecto se llevó a cabo comparando la adecuación de las derivaciones antes de la activación del programa (T0), con los datos registrados a los 6, 12, 18 y 24 meses del comienzo del estudio (T1, T2, T3 y T4, respectivamente). Adicionalmente, se analizó la adecuación un año después de cesar las exposiciones. Para este análisis se revisaron 18.088 derivaciones. RESULTADOS: En T0 se consideró adecuado el 61,7% de las derivaciones. Ya en T1 (adecuación 73,4%) se detectó una mejora significativa de la tasa de adecuación (RR con relación a T0, 1,19, IC 1,14-1,23). En T2 el 73,7% de las derivaciones fueron adecuadas (RR con relación a T0, 1,19, IC 1,15-1,24). En T3 el porcentaje de derivaciones adecuadas se mantuvo estable (adecuación 73,4%, RR con relación a T0, 1,18, IC 1,15-1,23). Sin embargo, al final del segundo año (T4), la adecuación disminuyó significativamente (adecuación 67,3%, IC 65,4-69, RR con relación a T0, 1,09, IC 1,05-1,12). Transcurrido un año de la finalización del programa (T5), el porcentaje de derivaciones adecuadas fue superponible al basal (adecuación 64,4%, RR con relación a T0, 1,04, IC 1,04-1,07). CONCLUSIONES: Las actividades educativas permiten mejorar la calidad de las derivaciones desde AP a un servicio de urología. El cese de esas actividades implica el retorno a los valores originales

OBJECTIVES: To test two interventions aiming at improving the compliance of primary health care physicians with an agreed-on protocol of referrals to a urology department. METHODS: Joint formative meetings (every six months) were celebrated throughout a 24-month period. Also a counseling telephone line was implemented. 18.088 referrals were analyzed. The effect of both expositions was tested comparing basal data (T0) with the performance at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months later (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). An additional comparison was conducted to approach the results 1 year after the study ended (T5). RESULTS: 61.7% of the referrals at baseline complied with the protocol. A significant improvement was detected at T1 (compliance 73.4%, RR with respect to T0 1.19, 95% CI 1.14- 1.23). At T2, 73.7% of referrals were adequate (RR with respect to T0 1.19, 95% CI 1.15-1.24).The percent of adequate referrals at T3 remained stable (73.4%, RR with respect to T0 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.23). Nevertheless, adequacy of referrals by the end of the second year (T4) significantly decreased (67.3%, RR with respect to T0, 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.12). Adequacy at T5 was almost identical to the basal (64.4%, RR with respect to T0, 1.04 95% CI 1.04-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Learning activities can be effective in improving the quality of referrals from primary care to one urology department. Stopping the activities entails an immediate return to the basal standards