Prescription pattern and adverse effects profile of drugs used for breast, cervical & prostate cancers in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

SummaryBackground: Breast, cervical and prostate malignancies are the most common cancers in Enugu, Nigeria. Supportive therapies are given with anticancer drug treatments to mitigate adverse effects. The objectives of this study were to characterize the prescription pattern of anticancer drugs, their adverse effects, and the supportive therapies used to manage these malignancies in Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective questionnaire-based study. Data relating to breast, cervical and prostate cancer patients in the University of Nigeria Teaching hospital (UNTH), Parklane State Teaching hospital and Annunciation Specialist hospital, Emene, Enugu were collected for 7 months. Data were analysed using SPSS versions 22 and 23. Results: Anti-cancer agents commonly used in managing these cancers include anti-metabolites, mitotic inhibitors, anti-androgens, alkylating agents and anti-tumor anti-biotics. Conclusion: Anti-androgens, anti-metabolites and alkylating agents were the most prescribed anticancer drugs. Vitamin supplements, anti-emetics and analgesics were used to manage some side effects from prescribed anticancer drugs. Failure to document common side effects associated with use of some anticancer drugs in this study suggest a low index of suspicion on the part of the clinicians. AbstraitContexte: Les tumeurs malignes du sein, du col uterin et de la prostate sont les cancers les plus courants a Enugu, au Nigeria. Des traitements de soutien sont administres avec des medicaments anticancereux afin d'attenuer les effets indesirables. Les objectifs de cette etude etaient de caracteriser le schema de prescription des medicaments anticancereux, leurs effets indesirables et les therapies de soutien utilisees pour gerer ces tumeurs malignes a Enugu, au Nigeria. Materiels et methodes: Une etude descriptive transversale et retrospective par questionnaire. Les donnees relatives aux patients atteints de cancer du sein, du col de l'uterus et de la prostate a l'hopital universitaire de l'Universite du Nigeria (UNTH), a l'hopital universitaire Parklane State et a l'hopital specialise dans l'annonciation, a Emene (Enugu), ont ete recueillies pendant 7 mois. Les donnees ont ete analysees a l'aide des versions 22 et 23 de SPSS. Resultats: Les agents anticancereux couramment utilises dans la prise en charge de ces cancers incluent: les anti-metabolites, les inhibiteurs de la mitose, les anti-androgenes, les agents alkylants et les anti-biotiques. Conclusion: les anti-androgenes, les anti-metabolites et les agents alkylants etaient les medicaments anticancereux les plus prescrits. Des supplements de vitamines, des anti-emetiques et des analgesiques ont ete utilises pour gerer certains effets secondaires des medicaments anticancereux prescrits. Aucune documentation sur des effets secondaires courants associes a l'utilisation de certains medicaments anticancereux dans cette etude suggere un faible indice de suspicion de la part des cliniciens. West Afr. J. Pharmacol. Drug Res. Vol. 32 January – December 2017; 46-64