Age-Specific Reference Ranges for Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen in Puerto Rican Men with Proven Prostate Cancer

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to carry out a statistical study (the first such) of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in Puerto Rican men (including residents of Puerto Rico not born on the island) with proven prostate cancer (PC). We also sought to propose new age-specific PSA reference ranges to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of PC. Methods: In order to address our objectives, a PSA statistical analysis of 16,305 Puerto Rican men (from 2004-2012) with proven PC was carried out. Results: For all Puerto Rican PC patients, PSA statistical central measures and variability were determined. For instance, the mean, median, mode, index of dispersion (ID), and interquartile range (IQR) had the values 16.9 ng/mL, 7.2 ng/mL, 4.5 ng/mL, 3.1 ng/mL, and 11.3 ng/mL, respectively. The ID values suggest significant PSA data variability, and the IQR values show that the PSA data are over-dispersed. We found the median age-specific PSA reference ranges and confidence interval (CI) for all Puerto Rican men with proven PC. Also, we obtained the median PSA level and CI of Puerto Rican men with proven PC in 2 ranges (0<PSA <= 4 ng/mL) and (4 ng/mL<PSA<98 ng/mL). Conclusion: The main objectives of this research were achieved. First, a statistical study of PSA levels in Puerto Rican men with proven PC was conducted. Second, 2 new age-specific PSA reference ranges were obtained in order to improve decision making and medical treatment in PC.