Laura Davis, MD, on persistent poverty and early onset prostate cancer

Men who live in persistent poverty (PP) census tracts are more likely to be diagnosed with early onset prostate cancer in the distant or metastatic stage compared with those in non-PP census tracts, according to data presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.¹

For the study, PP was defined as an area where greater than 20% of people have been below the federal poverty line for 30 years or more. Early onset prostate cancer was defined as a diagnosis in men aged 20 to 59 years.

In an interview with Urology Times®, presenting author Laura E. Davis, MD, highlighted the background and key findings from the study. Davis is a PGY-4 resident at Case Western Reserve/University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.

The study also showed that the higher incidence of distant or metastatic disease was most pronounced in non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men.

The authors reported, “NHB men in PP census tracts had an approximately 46% higher rate of presentation with distant or metastatic prostate cancer than NHB men from census tracts with Non-PP.”

Based on these data, the authors concluded, “Collectively, these data emphasize the need for targeted screening interventions in persistent poverty areas to increase early detection.”

REFERENCE

1. Davis LE, Liu F, Dong W, et al. Early onset prostate cancer: a complex interplay between race, poverty, and incidence. J Urol. 2025;213(5S):e626. doi:10.1097/01.JU.0001109928.76203.bd.08