Prostate cancer among Jamaican men: exploring the evidence for higher risk

Background:Historically, black men of African descent have been disproportionately affected by prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men. African-Caribbean men are generally at higher risk of prostate cancer, with Jamaican men noted to have the highest incidence in the world. No robust evidence exists for the increased incidence among Jamaican men, or indeed, a clear explanation for the reasons these men are at a greater risk of developing the disease in comparison with other African-Caribbean men.Methods and findings:A literature review was undertaken. The findings indicated that black men of African descent, specifically Jamaican men, are at greater risk of prostate cancer and this finding applies to Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and USA.Conclusions:Current evidence for the higher incidence of prostate cancer among Jamaican men remains inconclusive and does not provide a clear explanation for its prevalence. More comparative studies are required to identify any predisposing factors responsible for this anomaly, worldwide. The involvement of health professionals in these research undertakings is important to obtaining insight into prostate cancer and in devising strategies to improve management and health outcomes.