In a nutshell
This study examined the long-term recovery rates from urinary incontinence (UI) and erectile dysfunction (ED) for men with prostate cancer treated with surgery. Researchers concluded that men with UI or ED 12 months after prostate surgery have a high chance of late recovery.
Some background
Prostate surgery is one of the treatment options recommended for localized (confined) prostate cancer. Common side effects of prostate surgery include urinary incontinence (UI, loss of control of urination) and erectile dysfunction (ED). The recovery from these conditions strongly influences quality of life after surgery. More studies are needed examining long-term recovery from UI or ED after prostate surgery.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to analyze the late recovery rates from UI or ED in men treated with prostate surgery.
The records of 7,373 men treated with surgery were included in the UI analysis (4,265 remained in the analysis after 3 years). The records of 2,285 men treated with surgery were included in the ED analysis (1,323 after 3 years). Questionnaires measured the presence of UI or ED for up to 3 years after surgery.
At 12 months, 13.2% of men reported UI. This decreased to 10.5% at 2 years and to 9.1% at 3 years. For men with UI at 12 months, the chance of achieving continence at 2 years was 38.6%. At 3 years, 49.7% of men who were incontinent at 12 months had regained continence.
48.8% of men reported ED at 12 months. This decreased to 40.2% at 2 years and to 36.4% at 3 years. For men with ED at 12 months, the chance of recovery from ED at 2 years was 30.8%. The likelihood of recovering from ED at 3 years was 36.5%.
Men with more severe UI or ED at 12 months were less likely to later recover continence or erectile function. Additional radiation therapy also reduced the chance of recovery. Younger men were significantly more likely than older men to later recover from UI or ED.
The bottom line
Researchers concluded that men with UI or ED 12 months after prostate surgery have a high chance of late recovery.
Published By :
European Urology
Date :
Oct 12, 2016
