Following significant disruption in patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic, prostate cancer discharges have rebounded to the highest level in nearly a decade. After a drop of 7% in 2020, discharges bounced back in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, however, discharges increased 11% above the previous average (excluding 2020).
Possible drivers of this increase include not only a return of patients who delayed care during the pandemic, but also changes in screening deadlines and an increase in California’s older male population (men over the age of 65 are at heightened risk for prostate cancer). Hospitals should continue to encourage regular prostate screening for patients and ensure adequate oncology department staffing and resources. Hospitals may also consider analyzing the stage at which most of their patients are presenting (whether early or late stage) to inform community-specific support.
