Abstract
Facing the limitations of financial resources available for health services, the necessity of evaluating new strategies in health management becomes evident. Experience from non-urological diseases suggests that prevention not only can reduce the number of incidences but also can be cost-effective. Predictive medicine or modern risk assessment could be a powerful tool to determine a given individual’s risk for eventually developing the disease. A significant reduction in disease-related mortality as well as a reduction in costs can be expected if prevention and screening are focused on individuals at risk.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker DW (2002) Prevention of heart failure. J Card Fail 8:333–346
Campbell DJ (2003) Heart failure: how can we prevent the epidemic? Med J Aust 179:422–425
Schmitz-Dräger BJ, Eichholzer M, Beiche B, Ebert T (2001) Nutrition and prostate cancer. Urol Int 67:1–11
Thompson IM, Goodman PJ, Tangen CM, Lucia MS, Miller GJ, Ford LG, Lieber MM, Cespedes RD, Atkins JN, Lipman SM, Carlin SM, Ryan A, Szczepanek CM, Crowley JJ, Coltman CA (2003) The influence of Finasteride on the development of prostate cancer. New Engl J Med 349:213–222
Park E, Schultz JK, Tudiver F, Campbell T, Becker L (2002) Enhancing partner support to improve smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD002928
Coldman AJ, Phillips N, Pickles TA (2003) Trends in prostate cancer incidence and mortality: an analysis of mortality change by screening intensity. CMAJ 168:31–35
Catalona WJ, Antenor JA, Roehl KA, Moul JW (2002) Screening for prostate cancer in high risk populations. J Urol 168:1980–1983
Becker N (2001) Epidemiologic aspects of cancer prevention in Germany. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 127:9–19
Becker N, Wahrendorf J (1998) Atlas of cancer mortality in the Federal Republic of Germany 1981–1990. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York
Zeegers MPA, Kellen E, Buntinx F, van den Brandt P (2004) The association between smoking, beverage consumption, diet and bladder cancer. World J Urol (in press)
Hemminki K, Li X, Czene K (2004) Familial risk of urological cancers: data for clinical counseling. World J Urol (in press)
Golka K, Wiese A, Assennato G, Bolt HM (2004) Occupational exposure and urological cancer. World J Urol (in press)
Goebell P, Kogevinas M (2004) World J Urol (in press)
Sommer F, Klotz T, Schmitz-Dräger BJ (2004) Lifestyle issues and genitourinary tumours. World J Urol (in press)
Gsur A, Madersbacher S (2004) Genetic polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk. World J Urol (in press)
Malats N, Vineis P (2004) Susceptibility genes for bladder cancer. World J Urol (in press)
Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group (1994) The effect of vitamine E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancers and and other cancers in male smokers. N Engl J Med 300:1029–1035
Clark LC, Combs GF Jr, Turnball BW, et al (1996) Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin: a randomized controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group. JAMA 276:1957–1963
Mehlman MJ (2004) Predictive genetic testing in urology: ethical and social issues. World J Urol (in press)
Mancini MA, Costernino A, Tavolini IM, Dal Moro F, Bassi PF (2004) Predictive medicine in non-neoplastic urological disorders. World J Urol (in press)
Probstfield JL (2003) How cost-effective are new preventive strategies for cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardiol 91:22G–27G
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmitz-Dräger, B.J., Malats, N. & Bassi, P. Predictive medicine in urology. World J Urol 21, 365–368 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-003-0380-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-003-0380-x