Potential for drug interactions in hospitalized cancer patients

To quantify the frequency of potential drug interactions unrelated to chemotherapy in cancer patients admitted to our institution, and to define risk factors for such interactions. Charts of 100 consecutive hospitalized cancer patients were reviewed. Patients receiving chemotherapy and/or hormone th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology 2005-09, Vol.56 (3), p.286-290
Main Authors: PIMENTA RIECHELMANN, Rachel, MOREIRA, Frederico, SMALETZ, Oren, SAAD, Everardo D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antineoplastic agents
Biological and medical sciences
Drug Interactions
Drug Therapy, Combination
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Female
Hospitals
Humans
Inpatients
Length of Stay
Male
Medical sciences
Medication Errors
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - complications
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
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Summary:To quantify the frequency of potential drug interactions unrelated to chemotherapy in cancer patients admitted to our institution, and to define risk factors for such interactions. Charts of 100 consecutive hospitalized cancer patients were reviewed. Patients receiving chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy were excluded, as were patients admitted for intensive care. Drug-drug interactions were screened with Drug Interaction Facts software, and manually by the authors. Potential interactions were graded by levels of severity (severe, moderate, minor) and significance (one to five, with one representing the highest level of evidence). The median age of the patients was 67 years, and the length of hospital stay and the number of drugs per patient were 6 days and eight drugs, respectively. In 63 patients 180 potential interactions were detected. Of the potential interactions, 18.3% were severe, 56.7% were moderate, and 25% were minor. Approximately 7%, 18% and 13% of potential interactions were graded as level 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In multivariate analysis, prescriptions with eight or more drugs (P=0.0004) and six or more days of hospital stay (P=0.014) were independent risk factors for potential interactions. Potential drug interactions are common among hospitalized cancer patients. Length of hospital stay and number of prescribed drugs are risk factors.
ISSN:0344-5704
1432-0843
DOI:10.1007/s00280-004-0998-4