Frequency of Polypharmacy in Advanced Cancer Patients Consulted with the Palliative Service of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran), Iran, 2017

Abstract

Background: Polypharmacy is defined as the concurrent use of more than four or five medications by an individual.<br />The prevalence of this condition has increased due to the ageing population and the related illnesses. Use of multiple<br />medications would increase the risk of side-effects, drug interactions, and medical costs. The present study aimed to<br />determine the frequency of polypharmacy in the advanced cancer patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 92<br />patients with advanced cancer were selected through convenience sampling from the inpatients and outpatients who<br />referred to the Palliative Care Unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran) in 2017. An examining physician completed a<br />researcher-made checklist for all the subjects based on the patients' biography and medical records. Statistical analysis<br />was performed by using SPSS software (version 19.0) through descriptive and analytical tests at the significance level<br />of pin 81.5% of the patients (n=75), the most prevalent of which were psychiatric disorders. Eighty-eight percent of the<br />patients (n=81) were on at least 5 or more medications. Opioids and antacids were the most common medications used<br />by these patients. Conclusion: The frequency of polypharmacy and average number of consumed medications were<br />high in patients with advanced cancer. Studying the effectiveness of these medications can highly help the physicians<br />stop or continue prescribing such medications, and guide the focus of attention towards the drugs that can improve the<br />patients' quality of life in the final days.