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

Objectives: To assess long-term health-related quality of life in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Methods: A total of 120 patients with at least 5years 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 102months (range 85-123months). 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 5years postoperatively compared with 5years, 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 60months 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 5years after radical prostatectomy maintain favorable outcomes thereafter.