Impact of metabolic syndrome on functional outcomes and complications of surgical treatment of prostate cancer

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a negative impact on functional recovery and complications after many surgical procedures. Aim To assess the role of Mets on functional outcomes and complications after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Patients and Methods Complete data were collected from 5758 patients, undergoing RP at a single referral centers in a 10-year period and the presence of MetS before surgery was ascertained in 17.7% of them using a modified version of the IDF-AHA/NHLBI criteria. Outcomes included 1-year continence and potency rates, early (<= 90 days) and late (>90 days) complications. Results Postoperative continence (no pads) was significantly less likely in MetS patients (75.4% vs 82.6%, P < .01), despite no difference in preoperative continence. Erections with or without therapy were reached in 55.8% of non-MetS and 41.8% of MetS patients (P < .01), in this case a significant difference in preoperative function was seen. No differences in early and late complications, except for wound infections (5.8% vs 3.9%, P < .01) were observed. Conclusions In the present study RP was safe from the complications standpoint in MetS patients, but the presence of the syndrome was a significant risk factor for post-RP incontinence and impotence.