Age, lifestyle, health risk indicators, and prostate-specific antigen scores in men participating in the world senior games

Background: A number of risk factors have been implicated for prostate cancer, with dietary fat intake the most commonly accepted modifiable risk. Objective: To assess the relationship between health risk indicators (e.g., cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and percent body fat), which are related to dietary fat intake, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) scores. Relationships between demographics and select behaviors (e.g., cigarette smoking and physical activity) with PSA scores are also considered. The setting was the 1999 Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. Subjectsʹ analysis is based on 536 men aged 50 years and older completing a questionnaire and receiving free screening, including a PSA. Methods: Frequency distributions, multiple regression techniques, and the Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: A positive relationship was observed between increasing age groups and mean PSA scores (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel Chi-Square: 53.8, p<0.0001). After adjusting for age, none of the personal risk factor indicators (i.e., cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and percent body fat) were related to PSA scores. Other factors not related to PSA scores after adjusting for age were race, marital status, education, history of chronic disease, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity. Conclusion: Because risk indicators such as cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and percent body fat are associated with dietary fat intake, their failure to be related with PSA scores makes it further unclear how this commonly accepted modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer may influence the disease.