Prevalence of Potential Pharmacological Interactions in Patients Undergoing Systemic Chemotherapy in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacological interactions are frequently observed in patients with chronic diseases, and their occurrence is proportional to the amount of medication used daily. Patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment commonly have comorbidities, which favor a greater prevalence of polypharmacy, increasing the risk of drug interactions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of drug interactions in patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treated at a hospital oncology service in southern Brazil. Methods: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design that was carried out with the analysis of secondary data obtained through the review of medical records. The population assessed consisted of all cancer patients who received intravenous chemotherapy from October to December 2020. Results: Out of the 297 patients included in the study, 231 (77.8%) had at least 1 potential pharmacological interaction. In total, 1044 drug interactions were found that were classified according to severity, resulting in 18 (1.7%) contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDI), 699 (67%) severe, 281 (26.9%) moderate, and 46 (4.4%) minor interactions. There was an association between polypharmacy and the prevalence of drug interactions. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that a large percentage of patients undergoing chemotherapy are susceptible to drug interactions. Thus, it is necessary that prescribers consider all drugs used by patients and, when possible, prescribe alternative drugs that have less potential for interaction in order to prevent drug interactions adverse effects and provide a better prognosis for patients.

Drug-related problems among esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer patients at the National and referral hospital in Kenya

“…51 In addition, 67% severe and 26.9% moderate drug–drug interactions were observed among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. 52 The findings of the current study suggested a higher incidence of potential drug–drug interactions among gastrointestinal cancer patients. Therefore, it is essential to use drug interaction checker software in the study setting at the level of prescription and dispensing to minimise the significant morbidity associated with this undesired drug–drug interaction in gastrointestinal cancer patients.…”

Improving Drug Safety in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Hemato-Oncological Diseases: A Prospective Study of Active Pharmacovigilance

“…Furthermore, active pharmacovigilance is crucial to ensure medication safety and to decrease the phenomenon of under-reporting. In addition, the pharmacist can monitor potential interactions, and this should be a valuable support for the oncologist [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Moreover, to reach correct the blood concentrations of oncological drugs, the oncologist should make use of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM).…”

Determination of drug–drug interaction in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide regimen

“…9 Moreover, possible DDIs have a high prevalence in oncology departments, where 80.8% of cancer patients treated at oncology service in a hospital located in southern Brazil were exposed to at least one interaction. 10 Although cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin are favored drugs in the treatment of breast cancer patients, 11 they are associated with a high risk of developing DDI. 12 In a study by Laban et al, Drugs.com identified potential DDIs (pDDIs) in 129 (84.9%) patients, while Lexicomp identified pDDIs in 113 (74.3%) patients in Northern Cyprus.…”