RESUMO
Background: Adjuvant hormone therapy (HT) in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BC) increases overall survival (OS). A lack of adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy is common, 31.0-73.0% of women discontinue endocrine treatment before 5 years. The aim of the study was to assess adherence to HT in routine clinical practice in patients assisted at the Clinical Oncology Department of the Hospital de Clinicas - Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay. Methods: Patients treated with HT for stage 0-III BC between 2017 and 2019 were included. The medication possession (MPR) rate was calculated using pharmacy records, and the Morisky-Green Scale was applied to assess adherence. Adherent patients were those with MPR ≥ 0.80 and who correctly answered the Morisky-Green treatment adherence questionnaire. The association of adherence with polypharmacy, treatment, and patient characteristics was assessed using simple logistic models. The associations between qualitative variables and adherence were assessed using simple logistic regression model or Fisher's exact test. The association between quantitative variables and adherence was assessed using the Student's t-test. The odds ratio (OR) for non-adherence to treatment and its 95% confidence interval were estimated. Results: Totally, 118 patients were included; 65.2% were treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs), 36.0% presenting polypharmacy. The adherence rate at the end of 2 years was 81.0 %; and it was associated with age (P = 0.03, OR = 0.96 for non-adherence), with adherent and non-adherent patients having a mean age of 65.0 and 60.3 years, respectively; however, adherence was not associated with polypharmacy, territory of origin, marital status, living alone, level of education, occupation, or stage. The adherence profile was similar for both drugs, but homemakers and retired women showed greater adherence to AI. Conclusions: Adherence to HT was assessed in real life, with 19.0% of the patients not adhering to the treatment, despite the known benefit for OS, being a well-tolerated treatment, and being provided free of charge. Older patients were associated with being more adherent. The results show the need of the Pharmacy Service and Department of Clinical Oncology Medical Oncology combining efforts to develop coordinated strategies and interventions to increase adherence, given the impact that this may have on patients' OS.
RESUMO
Resumen: El melanoma cutáneo es el tumor que más ha aumentado en incidencia en los últimos años. Presenta alta letalidad en estadios avanzados. En nuestro país el promedio anual de casos sería de 129 en hombres, 117 en mujeres, con 50 y 30 muertes anuales respectivamente. Objetivo: describir y analizar el perfil clínico-epidemiológico y sobrevida de una cohorte de pacientes portadores de melanoma cutáneo asistidos en dos centros de referencia en Montevideo en el período comprendido entre 2008 y 2017. Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, observacional de cohortes históricas en base a revisión de historias clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de melanoma cutáneo asistidos en el Servicio de Oncología del Hospital de Clínicas y en la Unidad de Oncología cutánea del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer en el período comprendido entre 2008 y 2017, con un seguimiento de los casos hasta el 31 de julio de 2018. Resultados: se analizaron 173 pacientes, mediana de edad 61,2 años (14-89), 50,3% de sexo masculino y 49,7% de sexo femenino. La forma anátomo-clínica nodular fue la más frecuente (32,7%), seguida de la extensiva superficial (28,9%), siendo el resto menos frecuentes. No fue alcanzada la mediana de sobrevida global (SVG), siendo la tasa de SVG a cinco años de 68,5% y a diez años de 54,5%. La mediana de SVG en EIV fue de 12 meses (IC 95% 8,5-21,5). Conclusiones: los resultados de nuestra serie en SVG son similares a los reportados a nivel mundial, al igual que en la mayoría de las características clínico-epidemiológicas. Se trata del primer trabajo con reporte de sobrevida en melanoma cutáneo en nuestro país.
Summary: Cutaneous melanoma is the tumour whose incidence has increased the most in recent years. This condition is highly lethal in advanced stages. In our country the annual average of cases adds up to 129 in men and 117 in women, there being 50 and 30 respectively, every year. Objective: to describe and analyse the clinical and epidemiological profile and survival in a cohort of patients who are carriers of cutaneous melanoma and were assisted in two reference centers in Montevideo between 2008 and 2017. Methods: we conducted a descriptive, retrospective, observational study of historical cohorts, based on a review of the medical records in patients with a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma assisted in the Oncology Service of the University Hospital and the Skin Oncology Unit of the National Cancer Institute between 2008 and 2017, with a follow-up until March 31, 2018. Results: 173 pacientes were analysed, median age was 61.2 years old (14-89), 50.3% were men and 49.7% were women. Nodular anatomo-clinical presentation was the most frequent form (32.7%), followed by superficial spreading (28.9%), other forms being less frequent. Median global survival was not achieved, global survival after 5 years being 68.5% and 54.5% after 10 years. Median global survival in Stage 4 was 12 months (IC 95% 8.5-21.5). Conclusions: the results in our series are similar to those reported internationally, in terms of global survival, the same as in most of the clinical an epidemiological characteristics. This is the first study with a cutaneous melanoma survival report in our country.
Resumo: O melanoma cutâneo é o tumor cuja incidência mostrou o maior incremento nos últimos anos. Nos estádios avançados apresenta alta letalidade. No Uruguai a média anual de casos seria de 129 em homens, 117 em mulheres, com 50 e 30 casos anuais respectivamente. Objetivo: descrever e analisar o perfil clínico-epidemiológico e a sobrevida de uma coorte de pacientes portadores de melanoma cutâneo atendidos em dois centros de referência em Montevidéu no período 2008- 2017. Métodos: um estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, observacional de coortes históricas foi realizado baseado na revisão dos prontuários dos pacientes com diagnóstico de melanoma cutâneo atendidos no Serviço de Oncologia do Hospital de Clínicas e na Unidade de Oncologia cutânea do Instituto Nacional del Cáncer no período 2008-2017, com um seguimento até 31/07/2018. Resultados: foram analisados 173 pacientes, com mediana de idade 61,2 anos (14-89), sendo 50,3% do sexo masculino e 49,7% feminino. A forma anátomo-clínica nodular foi a mais frequente (32,7%) seguido pela extensiva superficial (28,9%), as demais formas foram menos frequentes. Não foi possível alcançar a mediana de sobrevida global, sendo a taxa de SVG a 5 anos 68,5% e a 10 anos 54,5%. A mediana de SVG em EIV foi de 12 meses (IC 95% 8,5-21,5). Conclusões: os resultados da série estudada em sobrevida global são similares aos descritos internacionalmente, assim como a maioria das características clínico-epidemiológicas. Este é o primeiro trabalho que informa sobre a sobrevida em melanoma cutâneo no Uruguai.
