Polymedication in Elderly Submitted to Oncological Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: The elderly patient with cancer has potential risk of polymedication due to the increase of comorbidity and complexity of the cancer treatment, which often includes multiple antineoplastic and supportive medications. Objective: The objective is to identify the frequency of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication use and drug interaction in elderly patients with cancer. Method: It were collected sociodemographic, pharmacological and clinical information from 20 elderly patients (≥ 65 years) with cancer, polymedicated (≥five drugs), from July to August 2016, in an outpatient clinic in Sao Luis, MA through electronic chart and questionnaires applied in interviews. To analyze the data, it were used the: Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC), Micromedex®, Drugs®, Lexicomp® and the Anfarmag Phytotherapy Guideline. Beers Criteria 2015 was used to identify potentially inappropriate medication

for the elderly. Results: Among the patients, 70% were males, with a mean age of 73 years (SD=7.9). The most prevalent types of cancer were prostate cancer and breast. Cardiovascular and endocrine comorbidities were the most reported. A total of 134 drugs prescribed and self-medication were identified, of which 41 were antineoplastic. Eighty percent of the patients were exposed to potential risk of drug interaction, totaling 90 (63.2% of moderate, 21.2% of significant and 8.8% of mild severity). There were 4 interactions involving medicinal plants and seven inappropriate medications in use by 20% e 65% of the elderly patients, respectively. Conclusion: Among the patients included in this study, it was verified the occurrence of polypharmacy, potential drug interactions and the use of potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly.