Association of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications with physical functional impairments in older adults with cancer

Mostafa R. Mohamed, Erika Ramsdale, Kah Poh Loh, Huiwen Xu, Amita Patil, Nikesha Gilmore, Spencer Obrecht, Megan Wells, Ginah Nightingale, Katherine M. Juba, Bryan Faller, Adedayo Onitilo, Thomas Bradley, Eva Culakova, Holly Holmes, Supriya G. Mohile

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are prevalent in older adultswith cancer, but their associations with physical function are not often studied. This study examined the associations of polypharmacy and PIMs with physical function in older adults with cancer, and determined the optimal cutoff value for the number of medications most strongly associated with physical functional impairment. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used baseline data from a randomized study enrolling patients aged $70 years with advanced cancer starting a new systemic cancer treatment. We categorized PIM using 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria. Three validated physical function measures were used to assess patient-reported impairments: Activities of daily living (ADL) scale, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale, and the Older Americans Resources and Services Physical Health (OARS PH) survey. Optimal cutoff value for number of medicationswas determined by the Youden index. Separate multivariate logistic regressions were then performed to examine associations of polypharmacy and PIMs with physical function measures. Results: Among 439 patients (mean age, 76.9 years), the Youden index identified ≥8 medications as the optimal cutoff value for polypharmacy; 43% were taking ≥8 medications and 62% were taking ≥1 PIMs. On multivariate analysis, taking ≥8 medications was associated with impairment in ADL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.01-2.58) and OARS PH (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.01-2.98). PIMs were associated with impairments in IADL (aOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.09-2.73) andOARS PH (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.15-3.37). A cutoff of 5medications was not associated with any of the physical function measures. Conclusions: Physical function, an important component of outcomes for older adults with cancer, is cross-sectionally associated with polypharmacy (defined as ≥8 medications) and with PIMs. Future studies should evaluate the association of polypharmacy with functional outcomes in this population in a longitudinal fashion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-274
Number of pages8
JournalJNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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