Evaluation of prostate cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 crisis in the French Caribbean

Prostate cancer incidence varies considerably across regions worldwide. In Martinique, the incidence reached 164, 5 per 100,000 person-years between 2008 and 2014, ranking among the highest globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic activities were severely disrupted, which may have impacted prostate cancer outcomes. This study aimed to compare incidence, characteristics, and survival of prostate cancer patients diagnosed in Martinique before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included patients diagnosed with invasive prostate adenocarcinoma between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2022, from the Martinique Cancer Registry database. Patients were characterized according to the diagnosis period (pre-COVID vs. COVID). Variations in incidence were analysed using Poisson model. A log-rank test was used to compare survival curve. Multivariable Cox model were applied to identify factors for survival. A total of 4824 patients were included, with a mean age of 67.4 years (± 9.0). The incidence rate decreased by 18% after the onset of the pandemic (p = 0.006), followed by an average annual increase of 7% (p = 0.03). Overall survival was lower among patients diagnosed during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.007). The COVID-19 pandemic affected prostate cancer screening and diagnostic pathways as well as disease prognosis. Extended follow-up is required to assess the long-term impact on stage at diagnosis and patient outcomes.