Obesity and prostate cancer screening in the USA

Objective. To estimate the association between body mass index (BMI: kg/m²) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cancer screening in a nationally representative sample of US men aged 50 years and older using data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Respondents. Men aged 50 years or older classified by BMI as healthy weight range (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), obese class I (30-34.9), obese class II (35-39.9), and obese class III (≥40). Outcome measures. Interval since most recent screening for PSA. Results. Adjusting for age, race, smoking, education, employment, income and health insurance status, we found that, compared with men in the healthy weight range, men in the overweight [odds ratio (OR)=1.13; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.04-1.35], obese class I (OR=1.26; 95% CI=1.06-1.36) and obese class II (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.02-1.26) categories were significantly more likely to have obtained a PSA test within the previous year. A similar pattern was observed when we examined other screening intervals (e.g. within past 2 years, within past 3 years, etc.). Conclusions. Among men aged 50 years and older, overweight and obesity is associated wit obtaining a PSA test.