A new study has shown that acute cystitis may be an early indicator of genitourinary cancers in adults over 50, opening the door to improved treatment outcomes.
A bout of cystitis may be the first sign of urinary tract cancers.
Researchers studied data from over 3.6 million people in Sweden aged 50 and older, including 1.7 million men and 1.9 million women. Between 1997 and 2018, approximately 178,000 men and 428,000 women were diagnosed with acute cystitis, while around 257,000 men and 58,000 women were diagnosed with genitourinary cancers, including more than 24,000 cases that followed cystitis.
The results showed that the risk of developing urinary tract cancer increased significantly after an episode of cystitis:
center
Gamaleya Center: Russian vaccine against bladder cancer is now in use
The risk of developing bladder cancer was 34 times higher in men and 30 times higher in women during the first three months.
The risk of developing kidney cancer increased 11 times in men and 8 times in women during the same period.
The risk of developing prostate cancer was seven times higher, but it decreased after a year.
For gynecological cancers, the risk increased four to eight times during the first three months, then gradually decreased but remained significant.
The researchers noted that these risks remain higher than normal for years, and that the likely reason is that cancers or precancerous changes may weaken the immunity of the urinary system and make the patient more susceptible to infection, and some hidden tumors may show symptoms similar to cystitis.
The research team from Lund University in Sweden explained that the results indicate that acute cystitis may be used as an important clinical sign, and that doctors should follow up with particular care on patients over the age of fifty.
The study was published in the journal BMJ Public Health.
