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. 2024 Oct 1;17(1):2397797.
doi: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2397797. eCollection 2024.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medicine use in older adults with cancer: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia oncologic centers

Samuel Agegnew Wondm  1 , Tilaye Arega Moges  2 , Samuel Berihun Dagnew  2 , Fisseha Nigussie Dagnew  2 , Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke  1 , Rahel Belete Abebe  3 , Endalamaw Aschale Mihrete  4 , Fasil Bayafers Tamene  1
Affiliations

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medicine use in older adults with cancer: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Northwest Ethiopia oncologic centers

Samuel Agegnew Wondm et al. J Pharm Policy Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Most patients with cancer have comorbid conditions that necessitate advanced medical treatment. Polypharmacy (PP) and potentially inappropriate medicine (PIM) use is common among older adult patients with cancer. Not much research has been conducted on PP and PIM use among older adult patients with cancer in Ethiopian oncology centers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of PP and PIM use among older adults with cancer in Northwest Ethiopia oncology centers using the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) 2019 updated Beers criteria.

Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among older adult patients with cancer from July 15-December 30, 2023 in Northwest Ethiopian oncology centers. The use of at least one drug included in the 2019 Beers criteria revisions was classified as potentially inappropriate medication use. To identify the factors influencing PP and PIM use, logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: Of the 310 samples aproched, 305(98.4% response rate) participated in the study. The prevalence of PP and PIM use were 70.2% (95% CI 64.9-75.1) and 63.0% (95% CI 57.4-68.8) respectively. Being female AOR:3.6; 95% CI:1.7-7.8; p = 0. 001, advanced age [(70-74 years) AOR:3.9; 95% CI:1.2-6.7; p = 0.046 and ≥75 years AOR:3.8; 95% CI:1.7-8.4; p = 0.0028], abnormal body weight (underweight AOR:5.5; 95% CI:1.5-9.6; p = 0.019, overweight AOR:5.1; 95% CI:1.5-7.3; p = 0.01 and obese AOR:5.6; 95% CI:1.5-9.3; p = 0.021) and comorbidities AOR:3.5; 95% CI:1.7-8.3; p = 0.0032 were statistically significant factors for PP. Advanced age [(70-74 years) AOR:5.5; 95% CI:1.4-9.8; p = 0.015 and ≥75 years AOR:3.3; 95% CI:1.5-7.1; p = 0.002)] and polypharmacy; AOR:7; 95% CI:3.4-9.4; p = 0.001 were statistically significant factors for PIM use.

Conclusion: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medicine use were prevalent among older adult patients with cancer. Ensuring safe medicines prescription practices for older patients with cancer requires understanding the issue, stopping unwarranted treatment, and replacing it with less toxic, age-appropriate medicines.

Keywords: 2019 Beers criteria; Cancer; determinants; inappropriateness of medicine use; older adults; polypharmacy.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of PIM use and polypharmacy among older cancer patients (n = 305).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Number of potentially inappropriate medicines by age category (n = 192).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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