Older Age at RP Increases Urinary Incontinence Risk

A man’s age at radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer affects his risk of developing long-term urinary incontinence (UI), Swedish researchers reported in BJU International (2011;108;1572-1577).

The investigators, from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, analyzed data from questionnaires completed by 1,288 men who had undergone RP a median of 2.2 years earlier. Among the respondents, 19% of the oldest patients reported UI compared with 6% of the youngest, investigators reported.

Additionally, UI prevalence was elevated among men who had undergone salvage radiation therapy, those with respiratory disease, and subjects with lower educational level. Prostate weight, body mass index, diabetes, or previous transurethral resection did not appear to affect UI prevalence.

The researchers defined UI as the use of two or more pads per day at follow-up.

From the February 01, 2012 Issue of Renal and Urology News