OBJECTIVES: Community health systems (CHS) in the US play a large role in the care of patients with cancer, with over 50% of patients with cancer cared for within CHS. The profile of patients with prostate cancer seen in CHS within the US is not widely published. This analysis describes the demographic and diagnostic staging characteristics of patients with prostate cancer across a sample of CHS.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the Syapse Learning Health Network^TM (LHN), an electronic medical record (EMR) derived database that collects cancer care data from multiple care settings within CHS across 33 states, 450+ hospitals and from patients cared for by 1,900+ oncologists. Patients aged >18 yo at prostate cancer diagnosis were identified using ICD-10 codes. Data utilized for this analysis included both structured data (EMR fields like sex and birth date) and unstructured data (e.g. physician notes) validated by Certified Tumor Registrars and descriptively summarized.

RESULTS: 41,145 patients from the Syapse LHN were included in the analysis. 98% of patients were initially diagnosed with prostate cancer after January 1, 2010. Patient demographics included: median age of 66 yo at prostate cancer diagnosis; race including 79% White, 17% Black or African American, 1% Asian; and 5% with Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. 37,643 (91%) patients had stage at diagnosis available, with stage distribution including: 0 - 1%; I - 15%; II - 50%; III - 22%; and IV - 12%.

CONCLUSIONS: In this CHS analysis, patients with prostate cancer were diagnosed at the expected average age, with a majority diagnosed with stage I or II disease, but with a significant minority presenting with metastases. Additional analysis is planned to provide further insight into diagnostic and treatment patterns of patients with prostate cancer treated within these CHS.