Abstract
The quality of life (QoL) of men with optimal outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is largely unexplored. Thus we assessed meaningful changes of QoL measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 24 months after RARP according to postsurgical Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment score (CAPRA-S) and pentafecta criteria. 2871 prostate cancer (PCa) patients with completed EORTC QLQ-C30 were stratified according to CAPRA-S, pentafecta (erectile function recovery, urinary continence recovery, biochemical-recurrence-free survival (BFS), negative surgical margins) and 90-day Clavien-Dindo-complications (CDC) ≤ 3a. Multivariable logistic regression analyses (LRM) aimed to predict improvement of EORTC QoL. Mean preoperative QoL values did not significantly differ between CAPRA-S low- (LR) vs. high-risk (HR, 75.7 vs. 75.2; p = 0.7) and pentafecta vs. non-pentafecta groups (75.6 vs. 75.2; p = 0.6). After RARP, stable QoL rates for CAPRA-S LR vs. HR and pentafecta were 30, 26 and 30%, respectively. Corresponding improved QoL rates were 44, 32 and 47%. In LRM, CAPRA-S and pentafecta criteria were independent predictors of improved QoL. We conclude that most favourable combined outcomes after RARP might confer stable or even improved QoL but up to one third of patients might experience deterioration. This warrants further investigation how to capture the underlying cause and to address and potentially solve these perceived negative effects despite successful RARP.