Long-term quality of life after radical prostatectomy: 8-Year longitudinal study in Japan

• Published in: International journal of urology Vol. 21; no. 12; pp. 1220 - 1226
• Main Authors: Namiki, Shunichi, Kaiho, Yasuhiro, Mitsuzuka, Koji, Saito, Hideo, Yamada, Shigeyuki, Nakagawa, Haruo, Ito, Akihiro, Arai, Yoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Period; prostate cancer; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms - psychology; Prostatic Neoplasms - surgery; Quality of Life; questionnaires; radical prostatectomy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Japan; questionnaires; prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy; quality of life
• ISSN: 0919-8172; 1442-2042
• DOI: 10.1111/iju.12586

Objectives To assess long‐term health‐related quality of life in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Methods A total of 120 patients with at least 5 years of follow up after radical prostatectomy were included in the present study. Health‐related quality of life outcomes were assessed using three questionnaires, the Short Form 36‐Item Health Survey, the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index and the International Prostate Symptom Score. Results A total of 91 patients (73%) responded at a median follow‐up time of 102 months (range 85–123 months). Among general health‐related quality of life domains, mental and role composite summary score remained stable throughout the follow‐up period. At the final survey, no significant differences were observed in any of the domains compared with the age‐matched average score of the Japanese population. Although the slight decrease in urinary function scores and International Prostate Symptom Score beyond 5 years postoperatively compared with 5 years, the differences were not significant. The sexual function summary score showed a substantially lower score just after radical prostatectomy and remained at a deteriorated level (P < 0.001). Responders at the final survey were more likely to report favorable general, urinary and sexual outcomes at 60 months compared with non‐responders. Conclusions When taking age‐related changes into account, general health‐related quality of life seems to remain stable in the long term after radical prostatectomy: patients with favorable health‐related quality of life outcomes during the first 5 years after radical prostatectomy maintain favorable outcomes thereafter.