Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life and Urinary, Sexual, Rectal, and Hormonal Symptoms and Morbidities in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer: Findings from A Population-based Cohort Study

We aim to investigate long-term prostate cancer survivors’ quality of life (QoL) over time. We employ growth curve model to examine the panel data from a population-based survey of survivors with localized prostate cancer in southeast of U.S. (N=1008). Survivors on average are 3 years post-diagnosis at intake and followed-up annually for 3 years. QoL is measured using SF12. Time-invariant factors include age, race, and education at intake. Time-varying variables include family income, marital status, time since diagnosis, prostate cancer specific bowel, hormonal, sexual, and urinary symptoms (EPIC-26), and comorbid conditions (Charlson Index).
Being younger (p<.01), being black (p<.05), having higher family income (p<.0001), having college or higher education (p<.01), and having fewer bowel (p<.05), hormonal (p<.0001), urinary irritability (p<.01), and sexual (p<.05) symptoms and comorbidities (p<.001) predict better physical QoL over time. Being older (p<.0001), being married (p<.01), and having fewer hormonal (p<.001) and sexual (p<.05) symptoms and comorbidities (p<.05) predict better mental QoL over time.
Both time-invariant and time-varying factors contribute to survivors’ QoL over time. To improve their QoL, clinicians need to attend to both prostate cancer specific symptoms and aging-related factors.