Home Hematology and Oncology Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery Tied to Financial Harm in Younger Patients

Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery Tied to Financial Harm in Younger Patients

Higher risk also seen among patients experiencing increased urinary symptoms

TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Younger patients have a higher risk for financial toxicity following robotic prostate cancer surgery, according to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Urology.

Oktay Özman, M.D., from the Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam, and colleagues evaluated the frequency of financial toxicity among patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. The analysis included 1,479 robot-assisted radical prostatectomy patients between 2006 and 2021 reporting no financial toxicity in preoperative assessments.

The researchers found that through two years of follow-up, 8.3 percent reported financial toxicity. There were no statistically significant differences between financial toxicity and salvage radiotherapy and positive surgical margin rates. Age at robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (odds ratio [OR], 0.95), International Prostate Symptom Score (OR, 2.4), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (OR, 1.5), and quality-of-life scores (OR, 0.09) were associated with financial toxicity. There was a 1.6-fold increased financial toxicity risk among patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy before retirement (65 years of age or younger).

“Patients who report urological symptoms after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy should also be evaluated for financial toxicity,” the authors write.

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