The need for hospital care of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer managed by noncurative intent: A population based registry study

Purpose: We studied the need for hospital care of patients 74 years old or younger with clinically localized prostate cancer managed by deferred endoc rine therapy. Materials and Methods: Our series included all cases of newly diagnosed, cl inically localized prostate cancer reported to the Danish Cancer Registry f rom 1977 to 1992. Information on the number of hospitalizations and operati ons performed from 1977 to 1994 was obtained from the Danish Hospital Disch arge Registry. Results: Our study included 4,790 men 37 to 74 years old with clinically lo calized prostate cancer. During the year of diagnosis and once a year of th e following 9 years patients were hospitalized an average of 2.2 and 1 time s and remained hospitalized an average of 22 and 10 days, and prostate canc er accounted for approximately 80% and 67% of hospitalizations the year of diagnosis and once a year subsequently. Nearly 90% of patients underwent tr ansurethral prostatic resection within the year of diagnosis and in 30% rep eat resection was necessary. A third of the patients underwent orchiectomy during the study period. Median time from the diagnosis to orchiectomy was 23 months. The estimated probability of surviving 5 and 10 years without or chiectomy was 39% and 17%, respectively. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer m anaged expectantly had a substantial need for hospital care in the years af ter the diagnosis. When evaluating outcome and quality of life after treatm ent of localized prostate cancer, the cost and impact of associated morbidi ty must be considered as well as patient survival.