This study estimated and projected the number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) among men who die of prostate cancer(advanced prostate cancer) in the United States from 2004 through 2050 and compare the projections by race/ethnicity and age, accounting for demographic changes and population growth.

The researchers applied the life expectancy method to estimate YPLL caused by deaths of prostate cancer and all cancers in men by using 1999-2004 national mortality data, 2008 census population demographic projections, and 2004 U.S. life tables. They performed sensitivity analysis by varying death rate and population projections, and examined increase in YPLL from population growth, changes in demographics, and death rates.

THEY FOUND:
1- YPLL caused by prostate cancer deaths to increase by 226.1%, from 291,853 in 2004 to 951,753 in 2050.

2- Hispanics were projected to have the fastest growth in YPLL (977.1% from 2004 to 2050) caused by prostate cancer, followed by non-Hispanic blacks (543.1%), and non-Hispanic others (269.7%).

3- People aged 75 or older was projected to account for 62.0% of YPLL from prostate cancer in 2050 compared with 50.8% in 2004.

4- Of the projected increase in YPLL caused by prostate cancer deaths by 2050, 9.8% were due to changes in demographic composition, 26.8% because of mortality change, and 63.4% because of population growth.

CONCLUSIONS:
Years of Life Lost due to prostate cancer deaths are projected to increase dramatically,. They will become a greater burden in the future. These projections highlight the importance of comprehensive cancer control and research on prostate cancer.

Cancer Epidemiol., Li C, Ekwueme DU., 2010 Aug;34(4):368-72. Epub 2010 May 26.
PMID: 20510666