Our study confirmed previous findings that most recurrences in patients with NMIBC occur within the first years after primary diagnosis. Furthermore, we found improved recurrence-free rates over the past 14 years. Our analysis suggests the risk of recurrence and progression persists after a 5-year RFI; however, only in a limited proportion of patients. Future studies should identify specific risk factors able to predict patients' long-term risk, to tailor potential long-term follow-up schemes for patients with NMIBC.
Hjort et al. (Sat,) studied this question.