Polypharmacy in the Geriatric Oncology Population.
Lauren R Hersh1, Kathryn Beldowski2, Emily R Hajjar3
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA. lauren.hersh@jefferson.edu.
Current Oncology Reports
|September 25, 2017
Summary
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications, is common in older cancer patients and can lead to adverse events. Strategies to reduce medication burden are needed to improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Polypharmacy is prevalent in geriatric oncology.
- Definitions vary, often including non-essential or duplicative medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore definitions, epidemiology, and impact of polypharmacy in geriatric oncology.
- To identify risk factors and clinical implications.
- To review approaches for polypharmacy reduction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of polypharmacy in geriatric oncology.
- Analysis of risk factors, consequences, and interventions.
Main Results:
- Polypharmacy is defined as multiple non-essential, unnecessary, duplicative, or ineffective medications.
- Risk factors include comorbidities, prescribing cascades, and hospitalization.
- Consequences include adverse drug events, drug-drug interactions, reduced adherence, frailty, and increased morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Polypharmacy significantly impacts geriatric oncology patients.
- A deficit exists in understanding its scope and interventions.
- Exclusion of older adults in cancer studies contributes to limited data.
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