Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
3-17-2023
Journal
The Oncologist
Abstract
Background: Polypharmacy is one factor contributing to increased mortality, hospitalization, and adverse drug reactions in older adults. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of polypharmacy in a cohort of older women with early-stage operable primary breast cancer and the relationship of polypharmacy to primary treatment decision and functional status.
Methods: A total of 139 patients with a new diagnosis of early-stage operable primary breast cancer proven histologically were recruited as part of a prospective study. The average age was 77 years. Assessment using a cancer-specific Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) tool was conducted within 6 weeks of diagnosis of breast cancer. Association was determined between number of medications and treatment decision and physical status as measured by the CGA outcomes. Additional analysis was performed to determine the associations above with polypharmacy defined by ≥5 daily medications, and if cardiovascular-related diseases have a role in the treatment decision.
Results: Polypharmacy was present in 48% of patients (n = 139). CGA determined that polypharmacy was associated with greater comorbidity (P < .001), reduced physical status rated by physicians (P = .009) and patients (P = .019), and reduced ability to perform activities of instrumental ADLs (P = .008). Similar findings were present in the analysis of cardiovascular-related diseases.
Conclusions: This work suggests that patients with polypharmacy are more likely to be frail. The number of medications could help us screen patients who should go on to receive full CGA.
Keywords
Humans, Female, Aged, Breast Neoplasms, Prospective Studies, Comorbidity, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions, Hospitalization, Polypharmacy, Geriatric Assessment, polypharmacy, breast cancer, medications, functional status, treatment, older women
DOI
10.1093/oncolo/oyac278
PMID
36718086
PMCID
PMC10020815
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-30-2023
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Internal Medicine Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Oncology Commons, Women's Health Commons