Publications (9)33.11 Total impact
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Article: Marital status: a gender-independent risk factor for poorer survival after radical cystectomy.
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ABSTRACT: Study Type - Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2a What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Married individuals have lower morbidity and mortality rates for all major causes of death. Cancer-specific survival is better in married patients with testis cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, as well as head and neck cancers. We have found the effect of marital status on outcomes after radical cystectomy to be variable, depending on gender and the outcome addressed. Being married is predictive of lower all-cause mortality for both men and women relative to their separated, divorced or widowed (SDW) or never-married counterparts. It is also predictive of lower bladder-cancer-specific mortality relative to SDW individuals. Marriage also exerts a protective effect on men regarding non-organ-confined disease, with those never having married having significantly higher rates. • To examine the effect of marital status (MS) on the rate of non-organ-confined disease (NOCD) at radical cystectomy (RC) • To assess the effect of MS on the rate of bladder-cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) after RC for urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UCUB). • A total of 14 859 patients, who underwent RC for UCUB, were captured within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, between 1988 and 2006. • Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the rate of NOCD (T(3-4) /N(I-3) /M(0) ) at RC and Cox regression analyses were used to assess BCSM and ACM. • Analyses were stratified according to gender; covariates included socio-economic status, tumour stage, age, race, tumour grade and year of surgery. • Never-married males had a higher rate of NOCD at RC (odds ratio = 1.22, P= 0.004), an effect not found in never-married females. • Separated, divorced or widowed (SDW) males (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.18, P= 0.005) and females (HR = 1.16, P= 0.002) had higher rates of BCSM than their married counterparts. • SDW and never-married males had higher rates of ACM than their married counterparts (HR = 1.22, P < 0.001 and HR = 1.26, P < 0.001, respectively). • SDW and never-married females also had higher rates of ACM than married females (HR = 1.24, P < 0.001 and HR = 1.22, P= 0.01, respectively). • For both men and women, being SDW conveyed an increased risk of BCSM after RC. • SDW and never marrying had a deleterious effect on ACM. • Unfavourable stage at RC was also seen more commonly in never-married males.BJU International 03/2012; 110(9):1301-9. · 2.84 Impact Factor -
Article: The effect of marital status on stage and survival of prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy: a population-based study.
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ABSTRACT: The detrimental effect of unmarried marital status on stage and survival has been confirmed in several malignancies. We set to test whether this applied to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). We identified 163,697 non-metastatic PCa patients treated with RP, within 17 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. Logistic regression analyses focused on the rate of locally advanced stage (pT3-4/pN1) at RP. Cox regression analyses tested the relationship between marital status and cancer-specific (CSM), as well as all-cause mortality (ACM). Respectively, 9.1 and 7.8% of individuals were separated/divorced/widowed (SDW) and never married. SDW men had more advanced stage at surgery (odds ratio: 1.1; p < 0.001), higher CSM and ACM (both hazard ratio [HR]: 1.3; p < 0.001) than married men. Similarly, never married marital status portended to a higher ACM rate (HR:1.2, p = 0.001). These findings were consistent when analyses were stratified according to organ confined vs. locally advanced stages. Being SDW significantly increased the risk of more advanced stage at RP. Following surgery, SDW men portended to a higher CSM and ACM rate than married men. Consequently, these individuals may benefit from a more focused health care throughout the natural history of their disease.Cancer Causes and Control 06/2011; 22(8):1085-95. · 2.88 Impact Factor -
Article: Trends of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy use in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis: a population-based study.
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ABSTRACT: Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND), chemotherapy, and active surveillance represent treatment options for patients with nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors of the testis (NSGCTT). Our objective was to assess the utilization rate of RPLND in patients with NSGCTT. Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cohort, 4,620 and 1,671 patients with stage I and II NSGCTT were diagnosed between the years 1988 and 2006. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to test the predictors of RPLND use in respectively patients with stage I and II NSGCTT. The rate of RPLND according to stage I and II was 27 and 58%, respectively. In patients with stage I disease, the rate of RPLND decreased from 39% in 1988-1995 to 18% in 2004-2006 (P < 0.001), and remained stable for stage II patients (62-56%, P = 0.2). Regional variability existed regarding the rate of RPLND use only in stage I (Utah: 51% vs. Louisiana: 16%). Multivariable analyses performed in stage I NSGCTT revealed that year of diagnosis, SEER registry, and age were significant predictors of RPLND use. However, none of these variables achieved statistical significance within stage II NSGCTT patients. In patients with stage I NSGCCT, the RPLND utilization rate decreased during the study span. This observation may be ascribed to wider use of surveillance or chemotherapy. No temporal difference was recorded in patients with stage II NSGCCT.Annals of Surgical Oncology 04/2011; 18(10):2997-3004. · 4.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Impact of caseload on total hospital charges: a direct comparison between minimally invasive and open radical prostatectomy--a population based study.
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ABSTRACT: We tested the relationship between caseload and total hospital charges after stratifying by minimally invasive and open radical prostatectomy. We evaluated 1,188 vs 3,354 men treated with minimally invasive vs open radical prostatectomy in the Florida Hospital Inpatients data file in 2008. Caseload was defined as the count of procedures performed by each surgeon between the study start on January 1, 2008 and the date of each procedure. Patients were divided into tertiles based on their procedure specific caseload. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to address the relation between caseload and total hospital charges for the minimally invasive and open procedures. Covariates were patient age, race, comorbidity, and length of stay. Median total hospital charges for minimally invasive and open radical prostatectomy were $33,234 and $33,674, respectively (p=0.03). Median total hospital charges in the low, intermediate and high minimally invasive vs open procedure caseload tertiles were $41,765, $34,799 and $28,780 vs $35,642, $34,726 and $32,726, respectively. On multivariate analysis with the high minimally invasive caseload tertile as the reference category the increments of the probability of charges in excess of the 2008 median of $33,588 were 3.9 and 8.1-fold for the intermediate and low caseload minimally invasive procedures, and 2.5, 3.6 and 2.8-fold for the high, intermediate and low caseload open procedures, respectively (each p<0.001). Overall median total hospital charges are virtually the same for minimally invasive and open radical prostatectomy. However, total hospital charges for the minimally invasive procedure have a more sensitive caseload effect, as evidenced by the wider distribution of the median of minimally invasive caseload specific total hospital charges vs that of open radical prostatectomy. The high caseload minimally invasive procedure resulted in the lowest total hospital charges relative to all other minimally invasive and open radical prostatectomy categories.The Journal of urology 03/2011; 185(3):855-61. · 4.02 Impact Factor -
Article: Tumor grade improves the prognostic ability of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage in patients with penile carcinoma.
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ABSTRACT: Penile cancer is rare. Thus, predicting cancer specific mortality may be difficult. We devised an accurate and yet easily applicable predictive rule that compares favorably with 2 previous models (73.8% and 74.7% accuracy, respectively). We identified patients treated with primary tumor excision for all stages of penile squamous cell carcinoma between 1998 and 2006. Disease stage definitions using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage and TNM classification, and tumor grade were used to predict cancer specific mortality. Predictive accuracy estimates were compared using the DeLong method for related AUCs. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results stage alone (1 predictor variable) was least accurate (74.5%). American Joint Committee on Cancer stage with tumor grade (2 predictor variables) was the most simple and most accurate (80.9%, p <0.001). A benefit similar to that of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage with tumor grade was seen for TNM classification and TG (80.7%, p = 0.8). However, this rule (4 predictor variables) was more complex than American Joint Committee on Cancer stage and tumor grade. American Joint Committee on Cancer stage combined with tumor grade is the simplest, most accurate cancer specific mortality prediction rule after primary tumor excision for penile squamous cell carcinoma. This method is also more accurate than 2 previous cancer specific mortality prediction rules.The Journal of urology 02/2011; 185(2):501-7. · 4.02 Impact Factor -
Article: A contemporary population-based assessment of the rate of lymph node dissection for penile carcinoma.
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ABSTRACT: The adherence rate to National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommendations regarding inguinal lymph nodes dissection (ILND) in high grade T1 (G3T1) and T2-4 squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP) is not known. We assessed ILND rates in a North American cohort. The 17 registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database included 868 patients with SCCP, diagnosed between 1988 and 2006. Analyses consisted of univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, 27.6% of patients underwent an ILND. ILND rates were directly proportional with T stage: 19.0%, 30.5%, 30.6%, and 32.6% for, respectively, G3T1, T2, T3, and T4 SCCP (chi-square trend, P = 0.01). ILND rates also increased over time and were 19.3, 27.3, 30.7, and 30.8% for respectively, 1988-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2003, and 2004-2006 periods (chi-square trend, P = 0.03). Finally, ILND rates decreased with patient age and were 42.6, 33.2, 24.7, and 7.3% for, respectively, patients aged ≤ 57, 58-68, 69-78 and ≥ 79 years of age (chi-square trend, P < 0.001). All 3 variables (T-stage, year of primary tumor excision and patient age) achieved independent predictor status in multivariable analyses. The overall rate of ILND is low. Nonetheless, there is an upward trend over time. Our data indicate that the adherence to the NCI ILND guidelines is suboptimal. In consequence, ILNDs should be more strongly encouraged.Annals of Surgical Oncology 02/2011; 18(2):439-46. · 4.17 Impact Factor -
Article: The impact of surgical experience on total hospital charges for minimally invasive prostatectomy: a population-based study.
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ABSTRACT: • To evaluate the relationship between surgical volume (SV) and total hospital charges in patients undergoing minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) for treatment of localized prostate cancer. • Within the Florida Hospital Inpatient Datafile, 2666 men who were treated with MIRP for prostate cancer between 2002-2008 were identified. • The SV was defined in two ways: annual caseload (AC) and each surgeons experience (SE) defined as the total number of procedures performed since entering the study until the time of each MIRP. • The mean and median charges were respectively 38,852 and 31,511 US Dollars. AC ranged from 1-171 and SE varied from 1-500. Overall, 75.7 to 94% of surgeons were in the lowest AC tertile and 27 to 66% of patients were operated by low AC tertile surgeons. • After stratification according to AC tertiles, median charges were 41,564; 33,395 and 26,608 US Dollar for respectively low intermediate and high AC tertile categories. • Multivariable logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations revealed that the probability of charges above the median was reduced by respectively 38 and 68% in patients operated by intermediate SE (17-76 MIRPs) or high SE tertile (≥ 77 MIRPs) surgeons vs. low SE tertile (≤ 16 MIRPs) surgeons. • High surgical experience reduces MIRP total hospital charges. • Despite this observation, even in 2008, 82% of MIRP surgeons were in the lowest AC tertile and contributed to 32% of all MIRPs.BJU International 12/2010; 108(6):888-93. · 2.84 Impact Factor -
Article: Annual surgical caseload and open radical prostatectomy outcomes: improving temporal trends.
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ABSTRACT: Radical prostatectomy is the standard of care for localized prostate cancer. Numerous previous reports show the relationship between surgical experience and various outcomes. We examined the effect of surgical experience on complications and transfusion rates, and determined individual surgeon annual caseload trends in a contemporary radical prostatectomy cohort. We analyzed annual caseload temporal trends in 34,803 patients who underwent surgery between 1999 and 2008 in Florida. Logistic regression models controlled for clustering among surgeons addressed the relationship of surgical experience, defined as the number of radical prostatectomies done since January 1, 1999 until each radical prostatectomy, with complications and transfusions. During the study period the proportion of surgeons in the high annual caseload tertile (24 radical prostatectomies or greater yearly) and the proportion of patients treated by those surgeons increased from 5% to 10% and from 20% to 55%, respectively. Conversely complication and transfusion rates decreased from 14.3% to 9.2% and 12.6% to 6.9%, respectively. Radical prostatectomies done by surgeons in the high surgical experience tertile (86 or greater radical prostatectomies) decreased the risk of any complication by 33% and of any transfusion by 30% vs those in patients operated on by surgeons in the low surgical experience tertile (27 or fewer radical prostatectomies). The proportion of surgeons in the high annual caseload tertile and the proportion of patients treated by these surgeons steadily increased during the last decade. Complication and transfusion rates decreased with time. The implications of these encouraging findings may result in improved outcomes in patients with surgically managed prostate cancer.The Journal of urology 10/2010; 184(6):2285-90. · 4.02 Impact Factor -
Article: Impact of surgical experience on in-hospital complication rates in patients undergoing minimally invasive prostatectomy: a population-based study.
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ABSTRACT: The relationship between provider volume and complication and transfusion rates in patients undergoing minimally invasive prostatectomy (MIRP) for prostate cancer has not been assessed. Temporal trends in MIRP annual surgical caseload (AC), impact of MIRP surgical experience (SE), and in-hospital complication and transfusion rates were evaluated. Between 2002 and 2008, 2,666 patients in Florida underwent MIRP. Surgical experience was defined as the number of procedures performed from the beginning of the study until each individual MIRP. Multivariable logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations assessed the relationship between SE and in-hospital complication and transfusion rates. Overall AC and SE ranged from 1-171 and 1-500, respectively. Between 2002 and 2005, 94-100% of surgeons were considered as low AC tertile (≤15 MIRP) vs. 76-82% between 2006 and 2008. For the same time periods, low AC tertile surgeons performed 46-100 and 27-32% of all MIRPs respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models revealed 51 and 68% lower complication rates in patients operated on by surgeons of intermediate (17-76 MIRPs) and high SE (≥77 MIRPs) relative to surgeons of low SE (≤16 MIRPs). Similarly, transfusion rates were 80 and 83% lower for the same groups. Our study is the first to indicate that high SE reduces MIRP complication and transfusion rates. Despite this observation, even in the most contemporary study year, most MIRP surgeons (82%) were in the low AC tertile and contributed to as many as 32% of all MIRPs. These findings should be considered at informed consent.Annals of Surgical Oncology 10/2010; 18(3):839-47. · 4.17 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2011
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Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
Montréal, Quebec, Canada -
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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2010
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Universität Hamburg
- Department of Urology
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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