PURPOSE: We report the difference in quality of life (QOL) between patients with an orthotopic neobladder and normative values in the age matched Japanese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 1996 and June 2003, 75 patients underwent orthotopic neobladder construction at our institution, of whom 47 males and 9 females were enrolled in this study. A total of 19 patients were excluded because of death or insufficient followup (less than 6 months). Two types of questionnaire, namely the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, version 2 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder Cancer, were mailed to all 56 patients. The 48 patients (86%) who returned the completed forms were included in our analysis. Postoperative QOL was compared with age matched normative values in the control Japanese population. RESULTS: Overall there was no significant difference in any scale between patients with a neobladder and the age matched control Japanese population. The patient bodily pain score in the seventh decade of life and the role-physical score in those older than 70 years were better than age matched normative values in the Japanese population (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). Male patients in the seventh decade of life were more likely to have better QOL in the physical functioning, role-physical and role-emotional subscales in addition to the bodily pain subscale compared to age matched control values (p < 0.05, < 0.05, < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). Likewise in male patients older than 70 years role-physical scores remained better than age matched normative values in the Japanese population (p < 0.01). Further analysis of bladder cancer related QOL showed that patients followed more than 24 months were more likely to have a lower incontinence score than those followed less than 24 months (p < 0.05). In addition, the continence related QOL change alone did not affect any health related QOL scales, as analyzed by RAND 36-Intem Health Survey. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that there is no essential difference in health related QOL between patients with a neobladder and the age matched Japanese control population. The current results provide some primary evidence to help in decision making and eliminate potential anxiety about worse QOL after cystectomy.
PURPOSE: We report the difference in quality of life (QOL) between patients with an orthotopic neobladder and normative values in the age matched Japanese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 1996 and June 2003, 75 patients underwent orthotopic neobladder construction at our institution, of whom 47 males and 9 females were enrolled in this study. A total of 19 patients were excluded because of death or insufficient followup (less than 6 months). Two types of questionnaire, namely the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, version 2 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder Cancer, were mailed to all 56 patients. The 48 patients (86%) who returned the completed forms were included in our analysis. Postoperative QOL was compared with age matched normative values in the control Japanese population. RESULTS: Overall there was no significant difference in any scale between patients with a neobladder and the age matched control Japanese population. The patient bodily pain score in the seventh decade of life and the role-physical score in those older than 70 years were better than age matched normative values in the Japanese population (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). Male patients in the seventh decade of life were more likely to have better QOL in the physical functioning, role-physical and role-emotional subscales in addition to the bodily pain subscale compared to age matched control values (p < 0.05, < 0.05, < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). Likewise in male patients older than 70 years role-physical scores remained better than age matched normative values in the Japanese population (p < 0.01). Further analysis of bladder cancer related QOL showed that patients followed more than 24 months were more likely to have a lower incontinence score than those followed less than 24 months (p < 0.05). In addition, the continence related QOL change alone did not affect any health related QOL scales, as analyzed by RAND 36-Intem Health Survey. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that there is no essential difference in health related QOL between patients with a neobladder and the age matched Japanese control population. The current results provide some primary evidence to help in decision making and eliminate potential anxiety about worse QOL after cystectomy.