Impact of hormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy on the recovery of quality of life

BACKGROUND: We investigated the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients who underwent prostatectomy (RP) with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT). METHODS: A total of 72 patients undergoing direct RP (DRP group) and 26 patients receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT group) were enrolled in the present study. The baseline interview was conducted before RP (not initiation of therapy). Follow-up interviews were conducted in person at scheduled study visits of 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. We measured general and disease specific HRQOL with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form and University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, respectively. RESULTS: At baseline, the NHT group scored statistically lower for not only sexual function (P < 0.001), but also the general HRQOL, such as role limitations due to physical problems (P = 0.007), social function (P = 0.045) and mental health (P = 0.034), than the DRP group. The NHT group reported lower scores in social function and mental health at 3 months (P = 0.040 and 0.006, respectively). Patients who received NHT for more than 3 months continued to show significantly lower scores for some HRQOL domains 12 months later. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy may decrease not only sexual function, but also general HRQOL before surgery. The recovery of HRQOL appeared to be further prolonged in patients who received long-term NHT.