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Clinical Research

Daily, monthly and seasonal variation in PSA levels and the association with weather parameters

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 14, pages 58–62 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

PSA levels have shown daily and seasonal variation, although data are conflicting regarding the season with higher PSA levels and the clinical relevance of this. We assessed the correlation of total PSA levels with meteorological data on a daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal basis. Data from 53 224 men aged 45–74 years, with an initial PSA <10.0 ng ml−1 were correlated with temperature (°C), duration of bright sunshine (hours) and rainfall (mm). There was seasonal variation in PSA levels, with median PSA being higher in spring compared with other seasons (1.18 vs 1.10 ng ml−1, P=0.004). Seasonal variation was not apparent when PSA levels were age-adjusted (P=0.112). Total PSA was not correlated with daily, weekly or monthly hours of sunshine, rainfall or mean temperature. In contrast, age-adjusted PSA varied with weekday, with higher PSA levels on Thursday and Friday compared with other days (1.16 vs 1.10 ng ml−1, respectively). On multivariate analysis, only age predicted for PSA levels >3.0 ng ml−1. In conclusion, PSA levels did show seasonal variation, although there was no direct correlation between PSA and any meteorological parameter. The degree of seasonal variation is small and the decision to proceed to prostate biopsy should be independent of season or weather parameters.

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Acknowledgements

We thank James Vincent Smith from the UK Met Office for providing the meteorological data. This research was funded by the Northern Ireland Research and Development Office and by the Men Against Cancer charity. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry is funded by the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland. The funding bodies had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation or the decision to proceed to publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

    D Connolly & P F Keane

  2. Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    P J van Leeuwen

  3. Department of Urology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, Northern Ireland, UK

    D Connolly & J Bailie

  4. Cancer Epidemiology & Prevention Research Group, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

    A Black & L J Murray

  5. Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

    A Gavin

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  1. D Connolly
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Correspondence to D Connolly.

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Connolly, D., van Leeuwen, P., Bailie, J. et al. Daily, monthly and seasonal variation in PSA levels and the association with weather parameters. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 14, 58–62 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2010.37

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2010.37

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