Radical cystectomy mortality in older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of post-radical cystectomy (RC) mortality and complications in older people to aid decision-making pertinent to RC, as bladder cancer is typically a disease of older people, yet older people are less likely than their younger peers to undergo RC, predominantly due to concerns about morbidity and mortality of surgery. 

Materials and Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus and Ovid Emcare was performed in May 2023 for all studies in the past 20 years that reported mortality and/or complications in the 90-days following RC. All studies reporting mortality or complication outcomes in patient groups aged >75 years were included. Exclusion criteria included partial, or organ-sparing cystectomy, non-English language articles, and <20 patients aged >75 years. 

Results: A total of 76 studies were included, with data from 58 504 older patients across five continents and 19 countries. Post-RC 90-day mortality was 11% in studies reporting outcomes for patients aged ≥80 years, and 7% in studies of patients aged ≥75 years. The 90-day mortality was higher in patients aged ≥80 years compared to patients aged <80 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62–7.22). Older people were more likely to experience a minor (Clavien–Dindo Grade I–II) postoperative complication than younger patients (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.36), whereas there was no difference for major complications (Clavien–Dindo Garde III–IV; OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.63–1.60). A higher co-morbid status was more strongly correlated with 90-day mortality in older patients than in younger patients. 

Conclusions: Older patients face higher postoperative mortality following RC than younger patients. Postoperative outcomes should be weighed against the high risk of cancer-specific death if no curative treatment is offered. Older people must be monitored closely postoperatively to try and prevent death as a result of escalation from minor and major complications.