Work Disability After Robot-assisted or Open Radical Prostatectomy: A Nationwide, Population-based Study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Oncology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) offers potential benefits like reduced bleeding and shorter hospital stays over open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).
• The impact of RARP versus RRP on return-to-work timelines and long-term work disability remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare short- and long-term work disability rates between men undergoing RARP and RRP.
• To evaluate the influence of surgical approach on return-to-work duration and subsequent work absence.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide population-based cohort study in Sweden included 2571 working-age men treated with RARP or RRP (2007-2009).
• Data on sick leave and disability pension were obtained from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (through 2012).
• Cox regression and generalized estimating equations were used to analyze time to return to work (RTW) and days lost from work post-RTW.

Main Results:

• Men treated with RARP had a significantly faster median return to work (35 days) compared to RRP (48 days) (p<0.001).
• RARP patients returned to work approximately four times faster within the first month post-surgery.
• No statistically significant difference was observed in long-term work disability (days lost after RTW) between RARP and RRP groups (12 vs 15 days, p=0.10).

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is associated with a quicker return to work than open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).
• The surgical method (RARP vs. RRP) does not appear to influence long-term work disability rates once patients have returned to work.