Diabetes Does Not Decrease Survival Among Prostate Cancer Patients
Diabetes does not decrease survival among patients with prostate cancer, according to results of a recent study. Additionally, prostate cancer and related treatment do not affect glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
Previously, little was known about the impact of diabetes on short-term overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate cancer or about the effect of prostate cancer on glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
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In their study, the researchers compared 276 patients with prostate cancer and diabetes with matched controls. Median follow-up was 43.7 months.
Demographic information indicated that mean patient age was 72 years, and 93% of patients were white. A total of 52% of participants had a Gleason score of 7, and 56% had tumor stage II prostate cancer. Patients with diabetes had a mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 6.7% and a higher mean body mass index (BMI).
Results of the study indicated that characteristics across groups were similar, with the exception of alcohol use and performance status. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis estimated the 5-year OS rates to be 88% among patients with diabetes and 93% among patients without diabetes. Those with diabetes demonstrated a much higher mean glucose than patients without diabetes. However, the researchers did not observe any significant changes in mean HbA1c and glucose values over 1 year.
“[Diabetes mellitus] did not adversely impact survival in patients with prostate cancer,” the researchers concluded. “In addition, prostate cancer and its treatment did not affect glycemic control. Patients and their providers can be reassured that the concurrent diagnoses do not adversely interact to worsen short-term outcomes.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Karlin NJ, Amin SB, Verona PM, Kosiorek HE, Cook CB. Co-existing prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus: implications for patient outcomes and care. Endocr Pract. 2017;23(7). doi:10.4158/EP161702.OR.