Opinion
Video
The investigators found a clear, dose-response relationship between patient-reported incontinence severity and the subsequent use of incontinence interventions such as artificial sphincters or bulking agents.
A recent Urology Times® interview with Bashir Al Hussein Al Awamlh, MD, MPH, focuses on findings from the CEASAR study, a population-based research initiative that began in 2011 to evaluate outcomes in men with localized prostate cancer across the US. The study tracks functional outcomes—specifically sexual, urinary, bowel, and hormonal function—following various guideline-recommended treatments, with the goal of informing shared decision-making between patients and physicians.
In the interview, Al Awamlh, a urologic oncologist and assistant professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, New York, highlighted a recent analysis presented at the American Urological Association 2025 Annual Meeting, which investigated the utilization of incontinence procedures after radical prostatectomy.1 A key innovation in this analysis was the integration of patient-reported outcomes with Medicare claims data. By linking Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data from the CEASAR study with claims records, the investigators created a novel dataset of over 3500 patients, including approximately 300 who underwent radical prostatectomy and maintained continuous Medicare coverage.
The investigators found a clear, dose-response relationship between patient-reported incontinence severity and the subsequent use of incontinence interventions such as artificial sphincters or bulking agents. Essentially, men who reported more severe incontinence symptoms at 6 to 12 months post-surgery were more likely to undergo these procedures. Although this trend may seem intuitive, this study is significant because it quantifies the relationship at a population level.
Al Awamlh emphasized the importance of routinely collecting patient-reported outcomes to guide both physician recommendations and patient expectations regarding post-treatment recovery and the potential need for secondary interventions.
REFERENCE
1. Al Awamlh BAH, An A, Huang L-C, et al. Association between patient-reported outcomes and use of incontinence procedures following radical prostatectomy: A population-based analysis from the CEASAR study. J Urol. 2025;213(suppl_5s):e238.doi:10.1097/01.JU.0001109784.58660.a5.17
Stay current with the latest urology news and practice-changing insights — sign up now for the essential updates every urologist needs.