AI Article Synopsis
- Polypharmacy, defined as the use of five or more medications, is common among cancer patients, with a study revealing about 79% of middle eastern cancer patients use multiple medications.
- Factors associated with higher rates of polypharmacy include comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and anxiety, which significantly increase the likelihood of patients taking multiple drugs.
- The study highlights the need for a collaborative healthcare approach involving oncology pharmacists and other providers to manage polypharmacy effectively and enhance patient safety and care quality.
Article Abstract
Introduction: Polypharmacy is prevalent among cancer patients; however, its relationship with comorbidities as well as its other potential factors has not been well studied among this segment of the patient population. Although several studies have described the prevalence of polypharmacy in cancer patients, its prevalence among Middle Eastern cancer patients is largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy among ambulatory cancer patients as well as its association with comorbidities.
Methods: A cross-sectional study using patients' electronic health records was conducted among ambulatory cancer patients aged ≥ 18 years in a tertiary care hospital. Polypharmacy was defined as the cumulative use of five or more medications. The main outcome was to assess the factors related to polypharmacy among ambulatory cancer patients which was evaluated using a multivariable binary logistic regression model.
Results: A total of 383 ambulatory cancer patients were included. Of these, approximately 79% had polypharmacy. Polypharmacy was more likely among patients with hypertension (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI: 1.41-7.42), diabetes (AOR = 3.33; 95% CI: 1.39-7.98), asthma (AOR = 8.64; 95% CI: 1.64-45.54), and anxiety (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.72-7.57).
Conclusions: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent in the Saudi Arabian oncology patients, especially in those with comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and asthma. Because polypharmacy mostly goes hand in hand with comorbidities, therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach of oncology pharmacist working with other healthcare providers to manage polypharmacy and simplify drug regimens for cancer patients is warranted to optimize the healthcare quality and improve drug safety.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155219880255 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Efficacy and safety of a modified DVD regimen followed by lenalidomide for the treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.
Clinics (Sao Paulo)
January 2025
Department of Hematology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address:
Background: The common drugs used for the treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM) include bortezomib and lenalidomide, but the adverse effects of lenalidomide cannot be ignored, especially when it is used in the initial therapy.
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a modified DVD regimen (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, bortezomib, and dexamethasone) followed by lenalidomide in the treatment of NDMM. A total of 40 NDMM patients were treated with a reduced dose of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (20 mg/m) on day 1, subcutaneous bortezomib (1.
TRIB3 is a biomarker of poor prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and may affect tumor development through PI3K / AKT / mTOR pathway.
Clinics (Sao Paulo)
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Anhui Province, China. Electronic address:
Objective: TRIB3 has been confirmed to participate in and regulate biological metabolic activities in head and neck tumors such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and oropharyngeal carcinoma, so the purpose of this study was to explore whether there is a correlation between TRIB3 and Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC) and to preliminarily explore the biological characteristics of TRIB3 in LSCC.
Methods: TRIB3 expression in the LSCC was analyzed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. CCK-8 assay, Colony Formation Assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were performed to investigate the roles of TRIB3 in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of LSCC.
Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy of Lung Nodules in Chest Computed Tomography Using Artificial Intelligence: Retrospective Analysis.
J Med Internet Res
January 2025
Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Background: Uncertainty in the diagnosis of lung nodules is a challenge for both patients and physicians. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly being integrated into medical imaging to assist diagnostic procedures. However, the accuracy of AI systems in identifying and measuring lung nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) scans remains unclear, which requires further evaluation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChondrosarcomas are the second most common primary bone sarcoma. Due to chondrosarcomas relative resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, surgical treatment has become the mainstay treatment option. The purpose of our study was to understand the proportion of patients in this population who undergo non-operative treatment options secondary to various reasons and analyze the difference in survival as well as patient and cancer specific characteristics between the two groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetastasis stands as one of the most prominent prognostic factors in osteosarcoma. Over 70% of metastatic osteosarcoma occurrences affect the lung. Nonetheless, to date, there has been a scarcity of research addressing predictive factors for lung metastasis risk in osteosarcoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!