To Study the Pattern, Causality, Severity and Predictability of Adverse Drug Reactions in Patients on Cancer Chemotherapy: Descriptive Research-Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: To study the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Material and Methods: The present prospective open label observational study assessed the new and old patients suffering from any of (breast, lung, colon, ovary, lymphoma) cancer on chemotherapy attending medical oncology department after taking their consent and patients who developed at least 1 adverse drug reaction during the treatment period. Results: It was found that the incidence of ADRs was more in females than males. The majority (77%) of ADRs were reported in age group of 31-60 years. The higher number of (30%) patients were of breast cancer. The most common organ system involved in ADRs because of cancer chemotherapy was skin and epidermis, having (45%) ADRs. The most recurrent ADR was pain in injection site (22.5%) followed by other adverse effects. The most common drug responsible for highest number of ADRs (18.1%) was docetaxel. As per World Health Organization Uppsala Monitoring System Causality Scale, majority (52.5%) ADRs were of possible category. According to Naranjo Algorithm Scale, (55%) of ADRs were of probable category. As per Hartwig and Siegel scale of severity assessment, highest number of ADRs (29.1%) of level 2 (100%) of the ADRs were predictable as per Rawlins and Thompson Scale. Conclusion: It is important to identify and evaluate the ADRs at an early stage, so that quality of life of cancer patients on cancer chemotherapy can be improvised.