Identification and analysis of adverse drug reactions associated with colorectal and gastric cancer chemotherapy in hospitalized patients

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are one of the most important problems in all hospitalized patients. It is especially more common and problematical in cancer chemotherapy. In this study we tried to evaluate the incidence of ADRs associated with chemotherapeutic drugs in colorectal and gastric cancer patients in a teaching hospital.
Material and A prospective observational study was carried out on patients with colorectal or gastric cancer who referred to outpatient chemotherapy unit of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, between July and December 2016. The identified ADRs were assessed for causality, severity and preventability.
Among 121 patients (67 with colorectal cancer and 54 with gastric cancer) followed during 251 and 249 chemotherapy courses respectively, in 182 and 249 courses ADRs occurred. All patients with gastric cancer experienced at least one ADR but 28.4% of patients with colorectal cancer passed their chemotherapy course without any adverse reaction. Gastrointestinal tract complication and neurologic problems were the most common ADRs in gastric and colorectal cancer patients, respectively. Nausea and vomiting was significantly more common in gastric cancer patients who received EOX regimen and also muscular weakness in patients who received FOLFOX regimen. The same correlation was found between neuropathy and FOLFOX IV regimen in patients with colorectal cancer.
Patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy have higher chances to develop ADRs. Those patients on chemotherapy should be strictly monitored for the early detection and prompt management of the ADR to prevent morbidity and mortality