Abstract: PD18-04
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

During the first postoperative years prostate cancer (PC)-specific anxiety is correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and psychosocial distress. However, little is known about the following years. The objective of this study is to examine parameters influencing on prostate specific antigen (PSA) - and PC-Anxiety of long-term survivors after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

4,719 survivors were identified from the multi-center German prospective database Familial prostate cancer. We evaluated the association of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC) with sociodemographic characteristics, family history of PC, global health score/quality of life (EORTC quality of life questionnaire-C30 subscale), depression/anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire - 4), latest PSA-level >= 0.2 ng/ml, time since RP and current therapy using hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Results

Mean age at survey was 75.2 years with a median follow-up of 11.5 years. The final regression model showed younger age, lower global health status/quality of life, higher depression/anxiety scores, higher latest PSA-level and shorter time since RP predicting a higher level of PSA- and PC Anxiety, respectively. Familial PC predicted only for PSA-Anxiety (all p < 0.05). The final regression model explained 12% of the variance for PSA-Anxiety and 24% for PC-Anxiety.

Conclusions

PC-specific anxiety is still relevant even many years after surgery. Besides depression and anxiety, younger age, shorter time since RP and a rising PSA-level play an important role during follow-up. Survivors who fulfill these characteristics are at higher risk to develop PC-specific anxiety which have need to be kept in mind by the treating physician regarding to a successful follow-up.

Funding

none