RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Polypharmacy in Older Patients ≥70 Years Receiving Palliative Radiotherapy JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 795 OP 799 VO 37 IS 2 A1 CARSTEN NIEDER A1 BĂRD MANNSĂKER A1 ADAM PAWINSKI A1 ELLINOR HAUKLAND YR 2017 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/37/2/795.abstract AB Background/Aim: Many older cancer patients receive five or more daily medications (polypharmacy). The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy in older patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy and its influence on the risk of being unable to complete the prescribed number of fractions, as well as the 30-day mortality and overall survival. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of 289 patients aged 70 years or older. Results: The median and mean Charlson comorbidity index (11) was 2, ranging between 0-7 (presently treated cancer not included). The median and mean number of daily medications was 7, ranging between 0-18. Only 27% of patients used less than 5 daily medications. Corticosteroids were used by 59% of the patients and opioid analgesics by 55%. Comorbidity, but also symptom severity, as indexed by pain medication, correlated significantly with the prevalence of polypharmacy. In multivariate analysis, neither polypharmacy nor use of corticosteroids or opioid analgesics influenced overall survival. No trends were seen for 30-day mortality or failure to complete radiotherapy. Conclusion: Polypharmacy is a common phenomenon in older patients receiving palliative radiotherapy and it does not predict adverse radiotherapy outcomes.