Short-term effects of bowel function on global health quality of life after radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND: Radical cystectomy (RC) shows an important impact on quality of life (QoL), for various clinical aspects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the short -term bowel function in patients that underwent RC. METHODS: Two hundred and six patients with MIBC underwent RC with ONB or IC urinary diversion. QoL was measured using the EORTC QLQ C30 and the Short -Form SF -36 questionnaires before surgery and at 12 months postoperatively. Baseline characteristics, including demographic profile, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), modified Frailty Index (m-FI), pathological tumor stage, Clavien-Dindo grade, and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The uni-variate and multivariate analysis (OR) were performed for constipation, diarrhea and m-FI of patients underwent RC for localized MIBC according to global health status score (poor/good vs very good). Multivariate analysis showed that constipation medium/high was significant associated with global health status poor/good (OR=2.39; 95% CI: 1.22-4.71; P=0.01); Diarrhea medium/high was associated with global health status poor/good (OR=2.85; 95% CI:1.186.92; P=0.02), and m-FI >= 2 score (OR=2.13; 95% CI: 0.99-4.57; P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diarrhea and constipation are associated with a lower QoL in cystectomized patients, both with ONB or IC urinary diversion; such association is especially significant in more fragile patients (Frailty Index >= 2). ( Cite this article as: Siracusano S, Gontero P, Mearini E, Imbimbo C, Simonato A, Dal Moro F, et al. Short -term effects of bowel function on global health quality of life after radical cystectomy. Minerva Urol Nephrol 2024 Jun 05. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6051.24.05730-6)