Prevalence of Potential Pharmacological Interactions in Patients Undergoing Systemic Chemotherapy in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacological interactions are frequently observed in patients with chronic diseases, and their occurrence is proportional to the amount of medication used daily. Patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment commonly have comorbidities, which favor a greater prevalence of polypharmacy, increasing the risk of drug interactions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of drug interactions in patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treated at a hospital oncology service in southern Brazil. Methods: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design that was carried out with the analysis of secondary data obtained through the review of medical records. The population assessed consisted of all cancer patients who received intravenous chemotherapy from October to December 2020. Results: Out of the 297 patients included in the study, 231 (77.8%) had at least 1 potential pharmacological interaction. In total, 1044 drug interactions were found that were classified according to severity, resulting in 18 (1.7%) contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDI), 699 (67%) severe, 281 (26.9%) moderate, and 46 (4.4%) minor interactions. There was an association between polypharmacy and the prevalence of drug interactions. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that a large percentage of patients undergoing chemotherapy are susceptible to drug interactions. Thus, it is necessary that prescribers consider all drugs used by patients and, when possible, prescribe alternative drugs that have less potential for interaction in order to prevent drug interactions adverse effects and provide a better prognosis for patients.