Factors Predicting Early and Late Phase Decline of Sexual Health‐Related Quality of Life Following Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract

The association between early and late phase sexual health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following radical prostatectomy (RP) is unclear. Moreover, factors that predict either early or late sexual HRQoL decline have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between early and late phase sexual HRQoL decline, and identify clinical parameters that predict substantial sexual HRQoL decline after surgery in the early phase (3 months) and late phase (20 months) following RP. We analyzed data on 2,345 consecutive patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical perineal prostatectomy, or robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy between 2001 and 2009 from the Duke Prostate Center database. Sexual HRQoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite instrument at baseline, early and late phase after surgery. The Spearman rank test was used to calculate correlation coefficients between early and late phase sexual HRQoL decline. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with substantial sexual HRQoL decline during both phases. Of 406 men who met our criteria, 217 (53.5%) men had normal erectile function, whereas 189 (46.5%) men had erectile dysfunction at baseline. Declines of sexual HRQoL during early phase had a significant association with that of a decline during late phase (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). In logistic regression, older age at surgery (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; P = 0.007 and OR, 1.08; P = 0.001), African-American race (OR, 4.32; P = 0.001 and OR, 3.13; P = 0.017), and overall comorbidity (OR, 1.43; P = 0.072 and OR, 1.72; P = 0.010) were consistently associated with substantial decline of sexual HRQoL in both early and late phases. Sexual HRQoL at early and late phases after RP were strongly correlated. Additionally, several factors were identified to be a predictor for decline of sexual HRQoL. Our findings may be used to advise patients who possess aforementioned risk factors during both phases.