Diagnostic and prognostic outcomes for men with prostate cancer detected through opportunistic, asymptomatic PSA testing or symptomatic presentation to primary care: The PC3 cohort study.

Authors

Samuel Merriel, Peter Nickol, Gary A Abel, William Hamilton

Published in

The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Aug 11, 2026. Epub Aug 11, 2026.

Abstract

Background Primary care is the main route to diagnosis for patients with prostate cancer, either following asymptomatic Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing or investigating prostate-related symptoms. Whilst previous primary care studies suggest an association between symptoms and prostate cancer diagnosis, it remains unknown whether outcomes differ based on the presence or absence of symptoms. Aim To compare prostate cancer stage, grade, and mortality amongst symptomatic patients presenting to primary care with asymptomatic patients. Design and setting Retrospective cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum. Included adult males aged 50 years and above with first presentation to primary care for coded lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), haematuria, or erectile dysfunction between 01/01/2011 and 31/12/2016 with up to two asymptomatic males matched by age, ethnicity, and GP practice. Method Main outcomes: Clinically significant prostate cancer (Gleason Grade Group ≥ 3); Early-stage prostate cancer; Cambridge Prognostic Group; prostate cancer mortality; all-cause mortality. Mixed effect logistic regression modelling was performed. Results 722,597 males were included (262,178 [36.3%] had coded symptoms). Mean age was 64.4 years (SD 9.76). 90.68% identified as White ethnicity. 12,297 new prostate cancer diagnoses within 24 months of index consultation (8,101 [65.88%] in symptomatic group). Clinically significant prostate cancer (Adjusted OR 1.14 95% CI 1.07, 1.23) was more likely in the symptomatic group. No difference was found in stage at diagnosis (aOR 1.02 95% CI 0.95,1.09). Conclusion Investigating symptomatic patients in primary care is more likely to detect clinically significant prostate cancer with no difference in stage at diagnosis.

PMID:
42580815
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Aug 2026.

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