Surgical Wait Time Is Not Associated With Oncological or Psychosocial Outcomes After Robotic Radical Prostatectomy

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Abstract
Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignancy in men, with increasing incidence and longer wait times for curative surgery, particularly in public health systems. While the impact of surgical wait time (SWT) on oncological outcomes in PCa remains controversial, its influence on patient‐reported outcomes has not been thoroughly evaluated. Objective: To assess the impact of SWT on both oncological and psychological outcomes in patients undergoing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for preoperative ISUP grade 2 and 3 PCa. Methods: This retrospective single‐center study included patients who underwent RARP for intermediate risk localized PCa between April 2016 and August 2024. Patients were stratified into two groups based on SWT: < 6 months vs. ≥ 6 months. The primary outcome was recurrence‐free survival (RFS) for all patients. Secondary outcomes included RFS in a high‐risk subgroup defined by pathological features (pT3 stage, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, and positive surgical margins), as well as a comparison of functional outcomes between the two groups. Patient‐reported outcomes were evaluated using SF‐36 (mental and physical components) and the Decision Regret Scale (DRS) at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, Cox proportional hazard models, and comparative tests with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: 218 patients have been included. RFS did not significantly differ between groups ( p = 0.98), including among high‐risk patients ( p = 1.00). No significant differences were found in extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, positive surgical margins, or ISUP upgrading between groups. Similarly, changes in both SF‐36 physical and mental and DRS scores showed no statistically significant differences at all time points. Conclusion: In this cohort of patients with intermediate‐risk PCa, SWT beyond 6 months did not adversely affect oncological or health‐related quality of life outcomes.

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