Use of Psychotropic Drugs Among Older Patients with Bladder Cancer in the United States
Menée à partir des données des registres américains des cancers portant sur 10 516 patients âgés et atteints d'un cancer de la vessie diagnostiqué entre 2008 et 2012, cette étude analyse les facteurs associés à une prescription de médicaments psychotropes après le diagnostic de la maladie
Objective : Older patients diagnosed with cancer are at increased risk of physical and emotional distress, however, prescription utilization patterns largely remain to be elucidated. Our objective was to comprehensively assess prescription patterns and predictors in older patients with bladder cancer. Methods : A total of 10,516 older patients diagnosed with clinical stage T1‐T4a, N0, M0 bladder urothelial carcinoma from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2012 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare were analyzed. We used multivariable analysis to determine predictors associated with psychotropic prescription rates (one or more). Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) was used as an index to measure adherence in intervals of 3‐months, 6‐months, 1‐year, and 2‐years. Evaluation of psychotropic prescribing patterns and adherence across different drugs and demographic factors. Results : Of the 10,516 older patients, 5,621 (53%) were prescribed psychotropic drugs following cancer diagnosis. Overall, 3,972 (38%) patients had previous psychotropic prescriptions prior to cancer diagnosis, and these patients were much more likely to receive a post‐cancer diagnosis prescription. Prescription rates for psychotropic medications were higher among patients with higher stage BC (P < .001). GABA modulators/stimulators and serotonin reuptake inhibitors/stimulators were the highest prescribed psychotropic drugs in 21% of all patients. Adherence for all drugs was 32% at 3‐months and continued to decrease over time. Conclusion : Over half of patients received psychotropic prescriptions within two years of their cancer diagnosis. Given the chronicity of psychiatric disorders with observed significantly low adherence to medications that warrants an emphasis on prolonged patient monitoring and further investigation.
Psycho-Oncology 2021