Aggressive Prostate Cancer and Associated Risk Factors among Patients Attending Oncology Clinic at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra-Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is of increasing public health concern and often predisposed by some risk factors such as age, race, family history of cancer, and dietary. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men in Ghana. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are affected sexually, psychologically, socially and in many forms. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to examine aggressive prostate cancer and associated factors among patients attending the oncology clinic at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional survey involving a target sample size of 130 patients was carried out at the oncology clinic at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital. A simple random sampling technique was used. Questionnaires were administered to these patients and data on factors associated with aggressive prostate cancer were collected. The analysis involved the use of chi-square tests to describe simple relationships and multiple logistic regression to quantify associations between aggressive prostate cancer and risk factors. Results: A total of 130 patients were recruited and used for analysis. The mean age of respondents was 67.5 years. The overall prevalence of aggressive cancer (Gleason score>7) among prostate cancer patients was 66.1%. Patients who belonged to the age group above 60 years (AOR = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.6, 21.8, P<0.05), smoke (AOR= 4.3, 95% CI=1.1, 16.5, P-value<0.05), drink alcohol (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.8, 23.0, P<0.05), and had history of cancer in the family (AOR= 4.0, 95% CI=1.1, 14.0, Pvalue< 0.05) were identified to be significant risk factors influencing aggressive prostate cancer. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that the aggressive nature of prostate cancer is a serious public health issue that needs major attention in Ghana. The researcher, therefore, recommends that the health promotion unit of the ministry of health, Ghana health service, NGOs, Advocacy groups and all other health agencies should intensify the campaign and create more awareness on prostate cancer screening. This will help pick the disease at the early onset of it to avoid diagnosing all the aggressive prostate cancer patients at an advanced stage which may not give a good prognosis.