Time Trends in Male Breast Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Survival in Austria (1983–2017)

Abstract

Background

Male breast cancer (MBC) comprises less than 1% of all breast cancer cases globally and remains understudied with persisting sex-specific survival disadvantages. We aim to contribute to better understanding of MBC with a comprehensive analysis of time-trends over several decades in Austria.

Methods

We used Austrian National Cancer Registry data on 1648 cases of MBC cases diagnosed between 1983 and 2017 in Austria. Overall incidence, mortality, and survival rates, as well as age-, stage-, and period-specific incidence and survival rates were calculated. Joinpoint regression was performed to assess trends.

Results

MBC incidence rates increased throughout the whole observation period (1983–2017) with an annual percent change (APC) of 1.44% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.77 to 2.11). During the same period, morality rates were stable (APC: –0.25, 95% CI: –0.53 to 0.60). Ten-year survival rates showed three phases of decreasing increases with an average APC of 2.45%, 1983–2009 (95% CI: 2.1 to 2.74). Five-year survival rates improved until 2000 (APC: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.34 to 3.30) and remained stable thereafter (APC: 0.10, 95% CI: –0.61 to 0.80). Stage-specific analyses showed a single trend of stable incidence rates of distant disease MBC (APC: –0.03, 95% CI: –1.67 to 1.65). Further, we observed increases in localised, regional, and unknown stage cancer incidence and increases in incidence rates across all age groups over the whole observation period. However, the estimates on these subgroup-specific trends (according to age- and stage) show wider 95% CIs and lower bounds closer to zero or negative in comparison to our findings on overall incidence, mortality, and survival.

Conclusion

Despite improvements in survival rates, MBC mortality rates remained largely stable between 1983 and 2017 in Austria, possibly resulting from a balance between increasing overall incidence and stable incidence rates of distant disease MBC.

Keywords:

• male breast cancer
• male health
• cancer epidemiology
• cancer trends

Data Sharing Statement

The data analysed in this study were provided by Statistics Austria. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study.

Ethics Approval and Participation Consent

Ethical approval for the use of Austrian Cancer registry data for this study in accordance with the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration was provided by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Vienna (Study 1259/2019). Participation consent was sought with information on consent provided in accompanying cover letters sent out with the survey forms.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors disclose no financial interests or competing interests of personal nature for this work.

Additional information

Funding

No external funding was received for this research.