OBJECTIVES: To study the predictors of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) among geriatric patients in the department of medical oncology.

METHODS: A hospital based prospective observational study was carried out among 153 inpatients in the department of medical oncology for a period of 6 months. Patients above 60 years of age with confirmed history of malignancy were included in the study. The potential risk factors for ADR were defined in relation to patient and chemotherapeutic regimen. The relationship between those risk factors and ADRs was assessed by univariate and multi variate logistic-regression analysis.

RESULTS: Among 153 patients, 94 (64.43%) experienced ADRs. The mean ADR per patient was 0.88±1.2. The common ADRs were found to be alopecia (30.18%) and diarrhea (28.68%). Risk estimates revealed that there was a significant association between smokers (OR= 10.326; 95% CI 2.345 -45.47, p= 0.001), alcoholics (OR= 10.897; 95% CI 2.479-47.902, p=0.001), increasing age (OR= 2.22; 95% CI 1.698-2.909, p=0.001), overweight (OR= 16.68; 95% CI 2.179-127.741, p=0.001) and male subjects (OR=0.143; 95% CI 0.05-0.390 p=0.001) and development of ADRs. The risk of carboplatin (OR=13.359; 95%CI 3.056-58.406 p=0.001) and 5 Fluorouracil (OR= 1.938 95%CI 1.266-2.935 p= 0.001) use with the occurrence of ADRs were also found to be high.

CONCLUSIONS: The study findings showed that smoking, alcohol consumption, age more than 70 years and overweight had a high risk for developing ADRs in geriatric patients who underwent chemotherapy. The independent risk factors identified should be targeted for preventive measures in order to improve anticancer agent prescription and reduce the risk of ADRs. Continuous monitoring and safe selection of medications are very important in these population.