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Original Article

Use of complementary medications among older adults with cancer†‡

  1. Ronald J. Maggiore MD1,
  2. Cary P. Gross MD2,
  3. Kayo Togawa MPH3,
  4. William P. Tew MD4,
  5. Supriya G. Mohile MD5,
  6. Cynthia Owusu MD6,
  7. Heidi D. Klepin MD7,
  8. Stuart M. Lichtman MD8,
  9. Ajeet Gajra MD9,
  10. Rupal Ramani BS3,
  11. Vani Katheria BSc3,
  12. Shira M. Klapper BS10,
  13. Kurt Hansen BS3,
  14. Arti Hurria MD3,§,*,
  15. on behalf of the Cancer and Aging Research Group3

Article first published online: 22 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27427

Issue

Cancer

Cancer

Volume 118, Issue 19, pages 4815–4823, 1 October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Maggiore, R. J., Gross, C. P., Togawa, K., Tew, W. P., Mohile, S. G., Owusu, C., Klepin, H. D., Lichtman, S. M., Gajra, A., Ramani, R., Katheria, V., Klapper, S. M., Hansen, K., Hurria, A. and on behalf of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (2012), Use of complementary medications among older adults with cancer. Cancer, 118: 4815–4823. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27427

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Medicine, Sections of Geriatrics/Palliative Medicine and Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

  2. 2

    Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

  3. 3

    Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer and Aging Research Program, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California

  4. 4

    Department of Medicine, Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

  5. 5

    Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

  6. 6

    Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

  7. 7

    Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  8. 8

    Department of Medicine, Commack Medical Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

  9. 9

    Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University and Syracuse Veterans Administration Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

  10. 10

    Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

  1. §

    Fax: (626) 301-8898

*City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010

  1. †

    Presented as a poster at the 2011 American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting; May 11-14, 2011; National Harbor, Maryland.

  2. ‡

    R.J.M., C.P.G., K.T., W.P.T., S.G.M., C.O., H.D.K., S.M.L., A.G., and A.H. were involved in the study concept and design as well as analysis and interpretation of the data. C.P.G., W.P.T., S.G.M., C.O., H.D.K., S.M.L., A.G., R.R., V.K., S.M.K., K.H., and A.H. were involved in patient acquisition. All authors contributed to the preparation and finalization of the article.

  3. §

    Fax: (626) 301-8898

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 22 FEB 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 8 DEC 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 4 DEC 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 OCT 2011

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Keywords:

  • herbals;
  • complementary medicine;
  • older adults;
  • cancer. chemotherapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Little is known about complementary medication use among older adults with cancer, particularly those who are receiving chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of complementary medication use and to identify the factors associated with its use among older adults with cancer.

METHODS:

The prevalence of complementary medication use (defined as herbal agents, minerals, or other dietary supplements, excluding vitamins) was evaluated in a cohort of adults aged ≥65 years who were about to start chemotherapy for their cancer. The associations between complementary medication use and patient characteristics (sociodemographics; comorbidities; and functional, nutritional, psychological, and cognitive status), medication use (number of medications and concurrent vitamin use), and cancer characteristics (type and stage) were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The cohort included 545 patients (mean age, 73 years; range, 65-91 years; 52% women) with cancer (61% stage IV). Seventeen percent of these patients (N = 93) reported using ≥1 complementary medication; the mean number of complementary medications among users was 2 (range, 1-10 medications). Complementary medication use was associated with 1) earlier cancer stage (29% had stage I-II disease vs 17% with stage III-IV disease; odds ratio [OR], 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-3.49) and 2) less impairment with instrumental activities of daily living (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.73).

CONCLUSIONS:

Complementary medication use was reported by 17% of older adults with cancer and was more common among those who had less advanced disease (i.e., those receiving adjuvant, potentially curative treatment) and higher functional status. Further studies are needed to determine the association between complementary medication use and cancer outcomes among older adults. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.

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