Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in older patients with multiple myeloma, related to fall risk and autonomous neuropathy.

PURPOSE: Multiple myeloma is a chronic, uncurable hematological cancer with the involvement of multiple organ systems. As a disease affecting older patients, the treatment of multiple myeloma should be based on individual patient characteristics. Polypharmacy is an increasing problem in the care of older patients and in patients with multiple myeloma, polypharmacy is almost inevitable. We aimed to evaluate the applicability of polypharmacy definitions and the relation of polypharmacy with disease outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: Eighty patients older than 65 years and diagnosed with multiple myeloma were retrospectively enrolled. Patient files, prescriptions, evaluations for polypharmacy were determined according to Beers and START/STOPP criteria. Outcomes were recorded from files in terms of fractures, autonomous neuropathy, and renal functions. RESULTS: Polypharmacy with ≥4 drugs was observed in 65 patients while polypharmacy with ≥5 drugs was observed in 51 patients. Autonomous neuropathy, polypharmacy with more than four or five medications, and use of multiple medications in the same category were related with poor ECOG performance status in women, while prolonged use of benzodiazepines and central nervous system (CNS) affecting drugs and inappropriate polypharmacy were more frequent in men with poor ECOG performance status. The majority of patients aged 75-84 years were observed to use inappropriate polypharmacy. Autonomous neuropathy and fall risk were observed to be significantly related with inappropriate polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Drugs affecting balance and perception should be reconsidered in patients with multiple myeloma.

The Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism and Impact on Survival in Hodgkin Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis increase the acute and long-term morbidity and mortality in malignancy patients. We analyzed venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, the impact of VTE on survival, predisposing factors for VTE, and predicting value of Khorana and ThroLy score models. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 150 adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma between January 2010 and 2018 at our university hospital. RESULTS: VTE was observed in 31 patients (20.7%). The types of VTE were 18 upper and 3 lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and 10 pulmonary embolism (1 with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis). Twenty-nine patients developed VTE during the treatment with a median time of episode as 5 months. In logistic regression analysis, a body mass index of >32 kg/m2, high fibrinogen levels, initial thrombocytosis and leukocytosis, splenic and extranodal involvement, presence of a central venous line, advanced stage, line of treatment status of thromboprophylaxis, VTE timing, and better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scores were observed to be related with VTE. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed a negative impact of VTE on survival. Khorana and ThroLy risk assessment models were found predictive for VTE (P = .000 and P = .003, respectively), although only ThroLy score was associated with the survival. CONCLUSION: Thromboprophylaxis and precautions for VTE in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma according to validated risk assessment models can improve prognosis and quality of life owing to the impact of VTE on survival in the study.