Disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality: Insights from the CDC WONDER database.

169 Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that men aged 55 to 69 engage in shared decision-making with their healthcare provider regarding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, weighing potential benefits against potential harms. Understanding trends across age, race, and geographic region is essential for informing these individualized screening decisions. Methods: We analyzed prostate cancer incidence and mortality data from the CDC WONDER database over a 10-year period (2012–2021). Data were stratified by age group, race, and geographic region, including state-level variations. Results: A total of 2,104,150 prostate cancer cases were recorded in males aged 40 and above during the study period. The overall crude incidence rate was 286.9 per 100,000. The highest incidence was observed among Black/African American men (414.6), followed by White (272.6) [Hispanic White (154.8), Non-Hispanic White (292.3)], Asian/Pacific Islander (125.4), and American Indian/Alaska Native men (122.2). In the Black population, the highest incidence occurred in the 65–69 age group, whereas for White and Asian populations, it peaked in the 70–74 age group. Regionally, the Northeast had the highest incidence rate (314.1), followed by the South (294.3), Midwest (294.1), and West (246.8). This pattern was consistent within the Black population, with the highest regional rate also in the Northeast (434.4). Thirty states reported incidence rates above the national average, with Delaware (366), Louisiana, Montana, Mississippi, and New Jersey among the highest. The lowest rates were seen in Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico. The overall crude mortality rate was 40.9 per 100,000, with a rate of 60.7 for Black men compared to 40.3 for White men. Conclusions: Black men face significantly higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to other racial groups. Geographic disparities also exist, with several states exceeding national averages. These findings underscore the importance of using demographic and regional data to guide personalized screening discussions and targeted public health interventions across diverse U.S. populations.