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Moving ahead in diabetics' cancer screening; food for thought from the Hellenic experience
Author(s) -
KARATHANASI I.,
KAMPOSIORAS K.,
CORTINOVIS I.,
KARAMPOIKI V.,
ALEVIZAKI P.,
DAMBROSIO M.,
ZORBA E.,
PANOU C.,
PANTAZI E.,
BRISTIANOU M.,
KOUIROUKIDOU P.,
BOUIATIOTIS E.,
XILOMENOS A.,
ZAVOU D.,
CASAZZA G.,
MAURI D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2007.00858.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , rectal examination , cancer , diabetes mellitus , cancer screening , gynecology , prostate cancer screening , primary care , prostate specific antigen , family medicine , endocrinology
Although data from literature suggest that diabetic women are frequently under screened for gynaecological cancers little is known about screening implementation for other cancers for both genders. This study investigates comprehensive cancer screening practices of diabetics as compared with non‐diabetics; analyses screening patterns both by gender and level of evidence and reveals target subgroups that should be paid more attention for screening implementation. 675 diabetics vs. 5772 non‐diabetic Greek individuals entered the PACMeR 02 cancer screening study. Diabetic women reported significantly lower performance for the sex‐specific evidence‐based cancer screening tests and digital rectal examination (DRE) as compared with non‐diabetics ( P < 0.05). Diabetic women older than 60 years old, of elementary education, housewives and farmers showed the lowest performance rates ( P < 0.01). Prostate cancer screening was higher among diabetic men with ultrasound and DRE reaching statistical significance ( P < 0.05). Subgroups analysis did not reveal a hidden relationship. Both genders of diabetics reported never performing skin examination at higher rates ( P < 0.001), although screening intent is extremely low in both diabetics and non‐diabetics (<1%). Evidence‐based screening coverage was inconsistent in both genders independently by the diabetic status. Primary care efforts should be provided to implement presymptomatic cancer control.