The effects of social distancing and self-isolation on functional outcomes after radical prostatectomy during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic

Background:This study is aimed to analyze the effect of social distancing on functional outcomes(potency,continence recovery,and quality of life)on patients undergoing open radical prostatectomy(ORP)and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP)during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Materials and methods:We retrospectively assessed functional outcomes of 55 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic(group A:12 ORP and 15 RARP)and compared these data with patients from the previous year(group B:13 ORP and 15 RARP).Propensity-score matching was performed to analyze variables associated with potency,continence recovery and compared between the groups at 1 and 3months.Results:Patients from group A were less interested in postsurgical rehabilitation compared to those from group B(95.7%vs.56.2%,p=0.042).Continence recovery among group B patients also tended to be higher for RARP(p=0.06)and ORP(p=0.08)at 1 month,although statistical significance was not reached.The cumulative continence recovery at 3months among group B patients was higher and statistically significantly advantageous for RARP(p=0.00)and ORP(p<0.01).Potency rates among younger group B patients following bilateral nerve-sparing procedures were statistically significantly advantageous for RARP(p=0.026)and ORP(p=0.011).Conclusions:Our results highlight the large impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on functional outcomes following radical prostatectomy.Future design and planning of home-based models for improved post-operative care should consider this evidence.