Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia have found that Black men have lower microvascular function compared to white men following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The study aimed to assess vascular health in Black and white men within three months of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, by examining 28 men with prostate cancer, 10 white and 18 Black, and measuring large blood vessel function, small blood vessel function, and arterial stiffness.
It was found that the Black men had significantly lower microvascular function compared to the white men, indicating early signs of heart disease risk. Interestingly, the Black men in the study were four years younger than the white participants, suggesting that microvascular dysfunction may accelerate vascular aging and contribute to the racial disparity in cardiovascular disease risk following a prostate cancer diagnosis.
The hope is that these findings will lead to new treatments to address the racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes between Black and white men. Understanding the impact of race on vascular health following a prostate cancer diagnosis will help develop more effective therapeutic strategies to reduce the cardiovascular burden associated with cancer. Abigayle Simon, a medical student at the Medical College of Georgia and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the importance of this research in improving health outcomes for all individuals with prostate cancer.
