Comparison of perioperative outcomes in elderly (age ≥ 75 years) vs. younger men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Objectives To investigate perioperative, oncologic, and functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in men of age >= 75 years in comparison with younger men. Methods From November 2011 to December 2018, six hundred and thirty patients with prostate cancer underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A total of 614 patients were analyzed after excluding 16 patients who were treated with hormone therapy prior to RARP. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their age (age >= 75 years: N = 46 patients and age < 75 years: N = 568 patients). Perioperative parameters regarding oncologic/functional outcomes and complication status were compared between the 2 groups. Clavien-Dindo classification was used to classify perioperative complications. Clinical and pathological status including stage, positive margin, continence, and potency status after RARP were analyzed. Results Five-hundred sixty-eight and forty-six men were of age <75 and >= 75 years, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of oncologic outcomes (positive resection margin rate and PSA failure). The duration of hospitalization was longer in older patients but was not statistically significant (P = 0.051). A total number of Clavien >= 3 complications that occurred within a month after RARP were 15 (2.6%) and 2 (4.3%) in younger men (age < 75 years) and older men (age >= 75 years), respectively (P = 0.359). Conclusion The present study showed that the oncologic and surgical outcomes in the elderly group were similar to those in the younger population. However, the duration of hospitalization seemed to be longer in older patients (age >= 75 years), despite similar complication rates.