Age-related differences in bladder function and sexual outcomes following bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic obstruction negatively affects bladder emptying and, if untreated, may be associated with impaired bladder emptying and related complications.

OBJECTIVES

To compare postoperative outcomes of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (bipolar TURP) among different age groups and evaluate the effect of patient age.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

We analyzed 132 male patients who underwent bipolar TURP between May 2022 and January 2024. Patients were grouped by age: Group 1 (50-60 years), Group 2 (61-70 years), and Group 3 (⩾71 years). Pre- and postoperative parameters-including prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, uroflowmetry (maximum and average flow rates, voided volume, post-void residual), symptom duration, medication use, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores-were assessed at 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Group 1 demonstrated significantly greater improvements in peak flow rates, post-void residual volume, and IIEF-5 scores compared with the older cohorts (p < 0.05). While Group 3 presented with the longest symptom duration and highest medication use at baseline, multivariate regression analysis identified advancing age as an independent predictor of more limited improvement in post-void residual volume (p = 0.008) and IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001), while its association with ∆Qmax reached only marginal significance (p = 0.050). Younger patients exhibited better postoperative preservation of erectile function and relatively improved recovery of bladder emptying.

CONCLUSION

Patient age is associated with urinary and sexual outcomes after bipolar TURP. The strongest age-related associations were observed for postoperative recovery of bladder emptying and preservation of erectile function, whereas improvement in peak flow rate was less strongly age-dependent and should be interpreted with caution.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.