Evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with prostate cancer after treatment with radical retropubic prostatectomy and permanent prostate brachytherapy.

AIM

The aims of this study were to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and make the treatment decision less difficult.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2009 radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) was performed in 96 patients and permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) in 88 patients at our hospital. The general and disease-specific HRQOL was measured using two instruments, the Medical Outcome Study 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) and the expanded prostate index composite (EPIC).

RESULTS

Comparing RRP and PPB, there were significant differences in all scores except for general health in the 1st month after treatment which had the same score in both groups. The baseline quality of life scores in physical function (p < 0.05), physical role (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.01), emotional role (p < 0.01) and mental health (p < 0.01) showed significant differences between the group and were better in the PPB group than in the RRP group. The physical component summary score in the PPB group was better than in the RRP group in the 1st month (p < 0.01) but recovered up to 3 months in the RRP group. The urinary bother and irritative/obstructive scores in the 1st month were worse from baseline in both groups (p < 0.05) and remained significantly worse up to 6 months in the PPB group than in the RRP group where these scores recovered within 3 months. The urinary incontinence score in the RRP group was still worse than in the PPB group up to 12 months (p < 0.01). Bowel function and bother were significantly better in the RRP group at 3 (p < 0.05) and 6 months (p < 0.01) than in the PPB group where bowel function at 12 months was worse than at baseline and in the RRP group. Sexual function (p < 0.01) and sexual bother were better in the PPB group and did not change until 12 months.

CONCLUSION

The difference in disease-specific quality of life has become clearer using EPIC. As with other published studies, our results provide important information that will therefore be useful for selecting the optimal treatments for localized prostate cancer.