Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Asymptomatic Male Population

Abstract

Objective To determine the possible effect of climate parameters on prostate specific anigen (PSA) levels. Materials and Methods Among 2.150 males, 757 individuals participating in a general checkup service at our hospital group in the past one year were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 48.52 and all the individuals underwent PSA screening tests, abdominal ultrasonography examinations including prostatic evaluation, and urine examinations including microscopic evaluation. The data on climate parameters including daily minimum and maximum temperatures and their average values as well as daily moisture levels were obtained from the records of the Turkish State Meteorological Service, including 2 meteorological stations existed in the Anatolian part of Istanbul. First of all, the differences in climatic parameters between the two stations were analyzed. Then, the relationship of PSA levels with daily minimum, maximum and average temperatures along with moisture levels recorded by the two stations was statistically evaluated. Results The mean age of the subjects was 48.52 (15-90) years and the percentage of individuals in age groups below 30, 31-40, 41-50 and over 50 were 5.2\%, 23.2\%, 31.8\%, and 39.8\%, respectively. The mean prostate volume measured by ultrasonography was 30.52 ml which increased with age in compatible with the literature. The mean PSA value was 1.19 ng/ml in all age groups. PSA values were higher in older participants and in those with larger prostate volume. Only PSA and mean humidity levels were statistically different between the two stations (p<0.05). When all parameters of temperature and humidity were grouped according to the months and seasons, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in PSA levels between the groups (p>0.05 for all parameters). As for months and seasons, a statistically significant difference was observed between four seasons in all parameters of temperatures and humidity levels (p<0.001), but this finding was not valid for alterations in PSA levels in these seasonal intervals. No significant relationship was found between the presence of white blood cells in urine and PSA levels and seasons seemed to have no statistically significant effect on the presence of leukocytes in urine (p>0.18 and p>0.5, respectively). Conclusion Since any proven effect of climate on PSA will increase the sensitivity of PSA in diagnosing prostate cancer and may prevent the decision of an unnecessary biopsy, humidity with a possible influential effect on serum PSA level according to our study definitely needs clarification and confirmation. Therefore, future studies including large number of subjects with detailed data facilitating calculation of thermal sensation are needed to give clearer answers to this topic.