Purpose: To test the hypothesis that age affects functional results after 80W photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).
Patients and methods: In 156 patients who were undergoing PVP for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), we assessed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QoL) score preoperatively and at 12 months. We calculated the association between age and IPSS and QoL results and corrected it for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value, whose impact on PVP functional results is well accepted.
Results: Median patient age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR] 62-75), median preoperative IPSS 20.5 (IQR 15-25) and QoL 4 (IQR 3-5). At 12 months, the median IPSS percent decrease was 58.8% (range 33%-75%), and the median QoL percent decrease was 66.7% (range 25%-80%). Age was independently associated with both (P < 0.05). In contrast, after adjustment for age, PSA was not significantly associated with percent IPSS decrease (P = 0.561), and its association with QoL was at the limit of significance (P = 0.05).
Conclusions: Age independently and strongly affects IPSS and QoL results at 12 months after 80W PVP.