He H, Han D, Xu F, et al. - This study is focused on the causes of death and risk factors of prostate-cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM) at different clinical stages; findings revealed that OCM could be influenced by some pretreatment and treatment factors that are not identical to those for PCSM at the corresponding stage. OCM is advised to be fully considered by decision-makers and managers so that treatment benefits for prostate cancer (PCa) may be maximized.

• Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were used in this study of 244,433 PCa patients; of which 19,274 died from 7356 PCSM, and 11,918 from OCM.

• A gradual rise in the proportion of PCSM was observed from 2010 to 2016, and following were revealed as risk factors for PCSM in the localized PCa stage: older age, not being married, living in a county with higher poverty rates, and higher PSA levels and Gleason scores.

• In the regional PCa stage, risk factors for PCSM were: older age, not being married, Medicaid, living in a county with higher poverty rates, and higher PSA levels and Gleason scores.

• A separated/divorced/widowed marital status, Medicaid, and higher PSA levels and Gleason scores were identified as risk factors for PCSM in the distant metastatic PCa stage.

• The risk factors for OCM included older age, an unmarried or separated/divorced/widowed marital status, and higher PSA levels.

• In cases with localized and regional PCa, receiving both surgery and radiation was worse compared to just receiving surgery for PCa specific survival.