Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON DRUG – DRUG INTERACTION IN AN ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Santhoshini Dhevi Kathirvel*, Aleena Prakash1, Joziya K. J., Shalin elsy varghese, Sengottuvelu Singaravel, Sheik Haja Sherief, Sivakumar Thangavel

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the incidence, the clinical relevance and high risk of drug - drug interactions(DDIs) between chemotherapeutic agents and other drugs in oncology department. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out between February 2017 and July 2017 with a total of 170 patients admitted in the medical oncology wards with different types of malignancies, receiving cancer chemotherapy and medications for other illness in oncology department. Results: Out of 170 subjects,74(43.52%) were males and 96(56.47%) were females. A maximum number (68) of interactions were seen in the age group of 50-60 years and a minimum number of interactions were between the age group of 20-30 and 70-80 (25), one of the factor involved in interaction is polypharmacy. A total of 260 (DDIs) were seen in 170 patients. Among 260 interactions,79(30.38%) were major, 140(53.84%) were moderate, 41(15.76%) were minor. In gender wise distribution, the major DDIs were 42 in males and 37 in females, the moderate DDIs were 59 in male and 81 in female, where as the minor DDIS were 16 in males and 25 in females. As concern with the mechanism of DDIs, pharmacokinetic interactions were 96, pharmacodynamic interactions were 128 and 36 were not specified. Conclusions: The study concludes that the DDIs are more common among cancer population. It can be preventable by proper monitoring and evaluation of the prescriptions. Hence clinical interventions are required to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Keywords: Cancer Chemotherapy; Drug – Drug interactions; Oncology.