Adherence to oral anti-cancer therapies in older patients is similar to that of younger patients

Abstract

Introduction

The use of oral anti-cancer therapies is becoming increasingly common in the management of cancers, raising the question of adherence. The objective of this study was to assess adherence to oral anti-cancer therapies, as well as the impact of various factors that may influence it.

Methods

Patients starting oral chemotherapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitor or cytotoxic) were followed up for 3 months using a medication diary, which was given to the patient by the pharmacist during a multidisciplinary consultation. Adherence was assessed using the diary, as well as by counting the tablets they brought back.

Results

One hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. The main oral chemotherapy agents prescribed were palbociclib (23.3%), everolimus (18.7%), and capecitabine (13.3%). The adherence at the end of the 3 months, by means of dose intensity (i.e. percent of the dose prescribed that has been taken), was 95.5%. No significant difference in adherence was found based on age, sex, family circumstances, health status, co-medication, type of oral therapy, tumor location, number of previous treatment lines, or presence of toxicity. The main reasons for non-adherence were forgetting (50%) and toxicity (21%). Fifty-seven patients prematurely discontinued the study: 40.3% for toxicity and 36.8% for disease progression.

Conclusion

Adherence in this study is high in comparison to literature, which can be explained by close multidisciplinary follow-up. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between younger and older patients.