Quality of Life in Patients with Bladder Cancer Undergoing Ileal Conduit: A Comparison of Women Versus Men

Studies comparing health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) between patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) and those who underwent a different form of urinary diversion has not reached yet univocal and reliable conclusions. The aim of our study was to evaluate bladder-specific long-term HR-QoL after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit.

A multicenter study was carried out on 145 consecutive patients (112 males and 33 females) undergoing RC and ileal conduit (IC). HR-QoL assessment was conducted using Italian versions of European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and EORTC BLM-30 questionnaires.

Our data showed that women who underwent IC presented greater problems than men in cognitive functioning (mean score±SD: 77.3±27.9 vs. 87.8±18.6) as well in future perspective (score: 42.4±34.4 vs. 21.9±24.6). Nevertheless, men undergoing IC had more problems in sexual functioning than women (score: 23.3±24.5 vs. 7.0±20.3) (all p<0.05).

In our series, female patients presented a greater burden than male patients in cognitive functioning as well in future perspective, but lower concerns with regard to sexual function.

In vivo (Athens, Greece). 0000 Jan [Epub]

Salvatore Siracusano, Carolina D'Elia, Maria Angela Cerruto, Omar Saleh, Sergio Serni, Mauro Gacci, Stefano Ciciliato, Alchiede Simonato, Antonio Porcaro, Vincenzo DE Marco, Renato Talamini, Laura Toffoli, Francesco Visalli, Mauro Niero, Cristina Lonardi, Ciro Imbimbo, Paolo Verze, Vincenzo Mirone, Marco Racioppi, Massimo Iafrate, Giovanni Cacciamani, Davide DE Marchi, Pierfrancesco Bassi, Walter Artibani

Urology Department, University of Verona, Verona, Italy., Urology Department, Bolzano General Hospital, Bolzano, Italy ., Urology Department, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Urology Department, Trieste University, Trieste, Italy., Department of Urology, IRCSS San Martino - IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy., Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS_CRO, Aviano, Italy., TESIS Department, University of Verona, Verona, Italy., Urology Department, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy., Urology Department, Foudazione Policlinico Gemelli, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy., Urology Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.