2057P - Prevalence of frailty in long-term prostate cancer survivors after radical prostatectomy and its association with quality of life and emotional health

Background

Aging-related deficits that eventually manifest as frailty are emerging as an important determinant for quality of life and emotional health in older patients with cancer. Prevalence of frailty in long-term prostate cancer survivors and its impact on quality of life have not been investigated so far. The objective of the current study was (I) to assess the prevalence of frailty and (II) to elucidate the relationship between frailty, quality of life and emotional health in long-term prostate cancer survivors after radical prostatectomy.

Methods

2979 prostate cancer survivors from the multicenter German Familial Prostate Cancer Database were included. Patients completed the following standardized patient-reported outcome measures of interest: frailty (Groningen Frailty Indicator, GFI), quality of life (EORTC QL2), and emotional health (anxiety/depression symptoms, PHQ-4). Chi-square tests and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were used to detect differences of selected variables between frail and non-frail patients. Associations were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

The patients’ mean age was 79.4 years (SD = 6.4) and mean time since radical prostatectomy was 17.4 years (SD = 3.8). 33.1% (985/2979) of patients were classified as frail (GFI ≥4). Regarding mental health and quality of life, frail patients reported more often symptoms of depression (24.0% vs. 4.0%; p<0.001) and anxiety (20.6% vs. 2.0%; p<0.001) as well as lower quality of life (M = 53.4 (SD = 19.2) vs. M = 72.7 (SD = 16.0); p<0.001) compared to non-frail patients. Frailty was significantly associated with depression (OR 1.68; CI 1.49-1.89), anxiety (OR 1.75; CI 1.55-1.97), lower quality of life (OR 0.72; CI 0.67-0.77), higher age (OR 1.04; CI 1.03-1.07), and a missing partnership (OR 1.83; CI 1.37-2.45).

Conclusions

Every third long-term prostate cancer survivor after radical prostatectomy was frail. The associations with lower quality of life and poorer mental health indicates the need for an integrated care approach including further geriatric assessment and possible interventions to improve health outcomes of these patients.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.