Prostate cancer in Korea: Nationwide trends in prevalence and medication use during 2011–2021

Introduction: The incidence of prostate cancer (PC) is rapidly increasing with population aging. With the emergence of new androgen receptor-targeting agents beyond androgen deprivation therapy, the treatment paradigm for PC is expected to shift. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with PC in Korea over the past decade, with a particular focus on drug utilization. Materials and methods: We conducted a prevalence-based cross-sectional study on all Korean patients who received medical care for PC between 2011 and 2021. Patient characteristics, including age, comorbidities, metastatic status, drug classes, and treatment patterns, were analyzed. Results: In 2021, the prevalence of PC was 532 per 100,000 adult men, an increase of 170.45 %, from 220 per 100,000 adult men in 2011. The mean age of patients with PC in 2021 was 73.07 years, with more than 80 % aged 65 years or older. Comorbidities, such as diabetes, pulmonary diseases, and mild liver disease, were common. Androgen deprivation therapy remained the most common pharmacological treatment; however, the proportion of its use gradually decreased over time, and the introduction of androgen receptor-targeting agents led to a steady increase in their use. Conclusions: This study provides real-world evidence of the epidemiology and therapeutic patterns of PC, thereby enhancing the understanding of the current clinical landscape in Korea.