Frequency of ORAL Mucositis in Male Patients Receiving Cancer Therapy
Author(s)
Vithal Yergolkar A1, Gundala P2, Krishna Murthy M3, Vinayak VM4
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, KA, India, 2Faculty of Pharmacy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, tirupati, AP, India, 3Faculty of pharmacy, M.S.Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, India, 4Ramaiah Hospitals, Bangalore, India
OBJECTIVES Oral Mucositis (OM) is one of the complications of cancer therapy which may potentiate the chances of systemic infection and have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. This study aims to assess the frequency of OM in male patients receiving cancer therapy. METHODS This prospective observational study is being conducted in 104 male patients receiving cancer treatment for a period of 6 months in M S Ramaiah Hospitals, Bangalore. The data on patient demographics, type of cancer, different treatment modalities is collected. All the patients were screened for the presence of OM which is being reported in a suitable designed form. The severity of oral mucositis is assessed using CTCAE v5.0 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events). All the patients are followed up until their completion of cancer therapy. RESULTS Amongst the total patients, the frequency of OM was found to be 26 (25%). Patients in the age group of 18-59 years 16 (61.54%) had the highest frequency of OM when compared to elderly 10 (38.46%). Patients with Head & Neck Cancer had the highest frequency of OM 17 (50%) followed by haematological cancers 6 (24%) and other malignancies (lung cancer and other gliomas) 3 (11.5%). Out of 26 patients with OM 15 (57.69%) patients were receiving chemotherapy and 11 (42.31%) patients were found to be receiving chemo-radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS OM is often a very serious unintended outcome of cancer therapy that may lead to readmissions, increased hospital stay, further life threatening complications such as sepsis or infections and delay in the treatment which add on to increase in medical costs. Early detection and prevention of OM is the need of the hour that could have an overall positive impact on patients’ health and economic status.
Code
PCN64