title: Quality-of-life assessment in patients treated with lower-energy thermotherapy: Prostasoft 2.0.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the impact of lower-energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) on quality of life (QoL) and quality of sexual function (QSF) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 216 patients with BPH received lower-energy TUMT treatment (Prostasoft 2.0) and were followed until 1 year after treatment. All patients completed a Madsen symptom score and QoL questionnaire to assess their perception of urinary difficulties, sexual functions, activities of daily living, psychological well-being, and social activities. The maximal uroflow changed from 7.8 ml/s at baseline to 11.2 ml/s after 1 year. The Madsen symptom score improved from 14.0 to 5.7. With regard to QoL, we saw a significant improvement in the perception of urinary difficulties and activities of daily living. No statistically significant improvement in QoL measures documenting sexual functions, psychological well-being or social well-being was observed. Besides a significant improvement in objective and subjective clinical parameters, we also observed an improvement in QoL. In addition to the minimally invasive character of this therapy, also the preservation of sexual functions is very appealing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.francisca@uro.azn.nl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Francisca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blute
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Rosette
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003972:Diathermy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014521:Urethra