Relationship between polypharmacy and inpatient hospitalization among older adults with cancer treated with intravenous chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Polypharmacy (≥5 concurrent medications) is common among older patients with cancer (48%-80%) and associated with increased frailty, morbidity, and mortality. This study examined the relationship between polypharmacy and inpatient hospitalization among older adults with cancer treated with intravenous (IV) chemotherapy.

Materials and methods

The main data source was the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked files. Patients (≥65 years) were included if they were diagnosed with prostate (n = 1430), breast (n = 5490), or lung cancer (n = 7309) in 1991-2013 and received IV chemotherapy in 2011-2014. The number of medications during the six-month window pre-IV chemotherapy initiation determined polypharmacy status. Negative binomial models were us

SUBMITTER: Lu-Yao G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8261864 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature