The role of health policy in the burden of breast cancer in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide, particularly in Brazil, where public healthcare system is an important model in health organization and the cost of chronic disease has affected the economy in the first decade of the twenty-first century. The aim was to evaluate the role of health policy in the burden of breast cancer in Brazil between 2004 and 2014. METHODS: Secondary analysis was performed in 2017 with Brazilian Health Ministry official data, extracted from the Department of Informatics of the National Health System. Age-standardized mortality and the age-standardized incidence of hospital admission by breast cancer were calculated per 100,000 people. Public healthcare costs were converted to US dollars. Regression analysis was performed to estimate the trend of breast cancer rates and healthcare costs, and principal component analysis was performed to estimate a cost factor. Stata® 11.0 was utilized. RESULTS: Between 2004 to 2014, the age-standardized rates of breast cancer mortality and the incidence of hospital admission and public healthcare costs increased. There was a positive correlation between breast cancer and healthcare public costs, mainly influenced by governmental strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Governmental strategies are effective against the burden of breast cancer in Brazil.

Evaluation of the systemic and therapeutic repercussions caused by drug interactions in oncology patients.

INTRODUCTION: Drug interaction is an important cause of global morbidity. It is of particular importance in cancer patients since they are often in use of polypharmacy, related to interactions between the drugs and the chemotherapeutics used. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the drug interaction between chemotherapy and other drugs in cancer patients. METHODS: a cross-sectional study carried out in the outpatient oncology department of a public tertiary hospital. Two hundred thirty-five patients were included, and the drugs they were using were identified. Using the MedScape and Epocrates database, we evaluated the interactions between medications and chemotherapy by defining their frequency and dividing their severity from interaction into mild, close monitoring necessity and severe. RESULTS: 161 patients had some drug interaction. We identified 9 types of mild interactions, 23 types of interactions with close monitoring necessity, and 2 types of serious interactions. The most frequent interactions were between fluorouracil and leucovorin (32 cases) and cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (19 cases). Serious interactions were between aspirin and pemetrexed; and leucovorin and Bactrim. CONCLUSION: In the present study, drug interactions were frequent, including serious interactions with a potential increase in morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is necessary for oncologists to draw up a therapeutic plan considering potential interactions between prescribed chemotherapy and current medications in use by patients.

Evaluation of the systemic and therapeutic repercussions caused by drug interactions in oncology patients

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: Drug interaction is an important cause of global morbidity. It is of particular importance in cancer patients since they are often in use of polypharmacy, related to interactions between the drugs and the chemotherapeutics used. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the drug interaction between chemotherapy and other drugs in cancer patients. METHODS: a cross-sectional study carried out in the outpatient oncology department of a public tertiary hospital. Two hundred thirty-five patients were included, and the drugs they were using were identified. Using the MedScape and Epocrates database, we evaluated the interactions between medications and chemotherapy by defining their frequency and dividing their severity from interaction into mild, close monitoring necessity and severe. RESULTS: 161 patients had some drug interaction. We identified 9 types of mild interactions, 23 types of interactions with close monitoring necessity, and 2 types of serious interactions. The most frequent interactions were between fluorouracil and leucovorin (32 cases) and cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (19 cases). Serious interactions were between aspirin and pemetrexed; and leucovorin and Bactrim. CONCLUSION: In the present study, drug interactions were frequent, including serious interactions with a potential increase in morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is necessary for oncologists to draw up a therapeutic plan considering potential interactions between prescribed chemotherapy and current medications in use by patients.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: Interação medicamentosa é uma importante causa de morbidade mundial. Apresenta especial importância em pacientes oncológicos, pois esses frequentemente estão em uso de polifarmácia, podendo haver interações entre os medicamentos e os quimioterápicos utilizados. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a interação medicamentosa entre a quimioterapia e outros medicamentos em pacientes oncológicos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado em serviço ambulatorial de oncologia de um hospital público terciário. Foram incluídos 235 pacientes, identificando-se quais medicamentos eram utilizados por eles. Por meio do auxílio do banco de dados do MedScape e Epocrates, avaliaram-se as interações entre as medicações e os quimioterápicos, definindo sua frequência e dividindo sua gravidade da interação em leve, monitorização próxima e grave. RESULTADOS: Do total estudado, 161 pacientes apresentavam alguma interação medicamentosa, sendo nove tipos de interações leves, 23 tipos de interações com necessidade de monitorização próxima e dois tipos de interações graves. As interações mais frequentes foram entre fluoracil e leucovorin (32 casos) e ciclofosfamida e doxorrubicina (19 casos). As interações sérias foram entre aspirina e pemetrexed; e leucovorim e bactrim. CONCLUSÃO: No presente trabalho, interações medicamentosas foram frequentes, incluindo interações graves com potencial aumento de morbimortalidade. Assim, faz-se necessário que oncologistas tracem um plano terapêutico levando em consideração as possíveis interações medicamentosas entre a quimioterapia prescrita e demais medicações em uso pelos pacientes.