Age influences results post-radical prostatectomy (RP), this study integrates cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives for investigating age differences. Findings demonstrated that younger patients had better function scores from a cross-sectional perspective, but only continence differed by age when longitudinal perspective was applied. In contrast, from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective, older patients had better global health scores.

• In this first multicenter randomized patient blinded trial (LAP-01) comparing results after robotic-assisted and laparoscopic RP, a total of 310 patients who had nerve-sparing surgery were stratified by the following ages: ≤ 60 years, 61–65 years, and > 65 years.

• At 3 and 6 months, a significantly higher risk for worsening of continence was observed among older patients (ORs 2.21 and 2.00, respectively); at 12 months, there was no significant difference in the odds of worsening between age groups.

• From a cross-sectional perspective, younger patients had better potency scores, but longitudinal change did not differ between the age groups.

• From a cross-sectional perspective, older patients had better global health perception and longitudinal decreases were significantly more common among the youngest patients, at 12 months (36.9% vs 24.4%).