Objective:

To determine the cumulative incidence of treatment-related genitourinary toxicity following external beam prostatic radiotherapy in patients with localised prostate cancer at a population level, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data.

Key Findings:

• The study provides a comprehensive assessment of late genitourinary toxicity incidence following radiotherapy in a population-based cohort, with a cumulative incidence rate of Y%.
• Clinical factors predictive of genitourinary toxicity were identified, including age, comorbidity index, and treatment characteristics, with specific hazard ratios.
• The burden of treatment was quantified through the volume of admissions and procedures related to genitourinary toxicity, totaling Z admissions.

Interpretation:

An improved understanding of genitourinary toxicity incidence can enhance patient-centered decision-making and inform treatment strategies for localized prostate cancer, potentially leading to better patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• The study may not fully capture the long-term effects of radiotherapy due to reliance on hospital admission data, and potential biases in data collection methods.
• Exclusion of patients with metastatic disease may limit the generalizability of findings.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the need for better awareness and management of genitourinary complications following radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care and the necessity for future research.