7: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Outcome after Salvage Cryosurgery of the Prostate: Comparison with Outcome after Primary Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: The current study was undertaken within the framework of a screening trial to compare the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes of two primary treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study among 278 patients with early screen-detected (59%) or clinically diagnosed (41%) prostate cancer using both generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures (SF-36, UCLA Prostate Cancer Index [urinary and bowel modules] and items relating to sexual functioning) at three points in time: t1 (baseline), t2 (6 months later), and t3 (12 months after t1). RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 88% to 93% of all initially enrolled patients. Patients referred for primary radiotherapy were significantly older than prostatectomy patients (63 v 68 years, P < .01). Analyses (adjusted for age and pretreatment level of functioning) revealed poorer levels of generic HRQOL after radiotherapy. Prostatectomy patients reported significantly higher (P < .01) posttreatment incidences of urinary incontinence (39% to 49%) and erectile dysfunction (80% to 91%) than radiotherapy patients (respectively, 6% to 7% and 41% to 55%). Bowel problems (urgency) affected 30% to 35% of the radiotherapy group versus 6% to 7% of the prostatectomy group (P < .01). Patients with screen-detected and clinically diagnosed cancer reported similar posttreatment HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Prostatectomy and radiotherapy differed in the type of HRQOL impairment. Because the HRQOL effects may be valued differently at the individual level, patients should be made fully aware of the potential benefits and adverse consequences of therapies for early prostate cancer. Differences in posttreatment HRQOL were not related to the method of cancer detection.

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5-Year health-related quality of life outcome in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Journal of Neurology ◽

10.1007/s00415-021-10477-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

A. Junkkari ◽

H. Sintonen ◽

N. Danner ◽

H. K. Jyrkkänen ◽

T. Rauramaa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Normal Pressure ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Hrqol Outcome ◽

Related Quality ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Health Related

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is severely impaired in persons with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). The HRQoL improves in a number of patients after the placement of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt, but long-term follow-up of HRQoL is rare. Methods Extended follow-up (60 months) of a prospective cohort study involving 189 patients with iNPH who underwent shunt surgery. Preoperative variables were used to predict favorable HRQoL outcome (improvement or non-deterioration) measured by the 15D instrument 5 years after shunting. Results Out of the 189 initially enrolled study participants, 88 had completed 5-year HRQoL follow-up (46%), 64 had died (34%), and 37 (20%) failed to complete the HRQoL follow-up but were alive at the end of the study. After initial post-operative HRQoL improvement, HRQoL deteriorated so that 37/88 participants (42%) had a favorable HRQoL outcome 5 years after shunting. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.95; p < 0.005), lower body mass index (adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.98; p < 0.05) and better Mini-Mental State Examination performance (adjusted OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01–1.32; p < 0.05) before surgery predicted favorable 5-year outcome. Conclusions This extended follow-up showed that the self-evaluated HRQoL outcome is associated with iNPH patients’ pre-operative cognitive status, overweight and age. The post-operative deterioration may reflect the natural progression of iNPH, but also derive from aging and comorbidities. It indicates a need for long-term follow-up.

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