ABSTRACT

Aim

Medication-related issues are prevalent among elderly patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication use (PIM), and drug-drug interactions (DDI) among patients with polypharmacy.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included elderly patients (≥65 years) with hematological malignancies who attended a geriatric outpatient clinic between April and September 2024. Sociodemographic data, medical history, medication use, and chemotherapy status were collected from electronic records. Polypharmacy, PIM, and the DDI were analyzed. PIM was evaluated using the Turkish Elderly Inappropriate Medication (TIME) criteria, whereas the DDI was classified according to the Lexi-Interact database.

Results

In an analysis of 219 patients (mean age 73.9±6.0), 27.8% (n=61) had received chemotherapy. Polypharmacy was observed in 64.4% (n=141) of patients, rising to 70.5% (n=43) in the chemotherapy group. PIM was listed in 63.0% (n=138) of patients, with 77.1% (n=185) of PIMs based on TIME-to-STOP criteria and 22.9% (n=55) on TIME-to-START. Antihypertensives and proton pump inhibitors were most frequently discontinued, whereas calcium and vitamin D were most commonly initiated. DDIs were detected in 73.1% (n=160) of the patients, and 21.9% had at least one major DDI.

Conclusion

Polypharmacy, PIM, and DDI are common in elderly patients with hematological malignancies. The prominence of specific drug groups in inappropriate use and the significant occurrence of major DDIs highlight the need for careful medication management in this population.