Prospective evaluation of sexual health following radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer

Background There is a lack of data concerning sexual health following open radical cystectomy (RC), especially in elderly patients and women.Aim To describe sexual health and its impact on general health as well as survival in patients undergoing standard open RC for the treatment of bladder cancer (BC). Due to limited data, subgroup analysis for elderly patients and women was performed.Methods A prospective noninterventional clinical study was performed evaluating sexual health in RC with any kind of urinary diversion due to BC with a follow-up of 12 months after RC. The study was approved by the local ethics review board (A 2021-0175) and was registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00026255). Assessment of sexual health was done with the following validated questionnaires: EORTC QLQ-C30 (for quality of life; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer), EORTC SH22 (for sexual health), and IIEF-5 (5-item International Index of Erectile Function).Outcomes The standard measurements of EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC SH22, and IIEF-5 as well as overall survival.Results Thirty-two patients participated in the study with a mean age of 71.5 years (SD, 9.7): 25 (78.1%) were male and 7 (21.9%) were female. Overall there is a heterogenic picture for sexual health in the study population, but sexual satisfaction is significantly higher prior to surgery while the importance of a sex life stays high and stable. Interestingly, the general health score is significantly correlated to sexual satisfaction (Pearson's correlation; r = 0.522, P = .002) preoperatively but not following surgery: r = 0.103 (P = .665) after 3 months, r = 0.478 (P = .052) after 6 months, r = 0.276 (P = .302) after 9 months, and r = 0.337 (P = .202) after 12 months. The importance of a sex life is still essential for the patients, especially when recovering from RC; nearly the same can be reported for elderly patients. Unfortunately, the data for women are too limited to report robust results.Clinical Implications Evaluation, advice, and monitoring of sexual health must be integrated into clinical practice, particularly in women.Strengths and Limitations At least to our knowledge, this is the first systematic prospective evaluation of sexual health in patients with BC receiving RC. Due to the small sample size, there is a risk of selection bias.Conclusion Sexual health is important for patients with BC receiving RC, and it is an essential part of quality of life, especially in elderly patients.