ABSTRACT
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 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%, pâ=â0.042). Continence recovery among group B patients also tended to be higher for RARP (pâ=â0.06) and ORP (pâ=â0.08) at 1âmonth, although statistical significance was not reached. The cumulative continence recovery at 3âmonths among group B patients was higher and statistically significantly advantageous for RARP (pâ=â0.00) and ORP (pâ<â0.01). Potency rates among younger group B patients following bilateral nerve-sparing procedures were statistically significantly advantageous for RARP (pâ=â0.026) and ORP (pâ=â0.011). 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.