Abstract

CORRELATION BETWEEN SMOKING, SMOKELESS TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL DRINKING AND EMESIS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING HIGHLY EMETOGENIC CHEMOTHERAPY

Dr. I. S. Anand*, Dr. Chirag J. Desai, Maulik R. Jani, Neeti P. Vaghela, Vidhi H. Prajapati

ABSTRACT

Background: Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment have historically been among the most difficult side effects that patients face while being treated for cancer.Aim: To correlate the habit like smoking, smokeless tobacco and alcohol drinking with emesis in cancer patient receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).Materials and Methods: A prospective single institutional correlation study was performed between November 2013 and March 2014. 42 freshly diagnosed adult cancer patients (except brain metastasis and gastrointestinal cancers) were included in this study. The frequency of acute emesis (occurring within 24 hours after standard HEC) was recorded for each patient along with the details of rescue medication and each patient was provided a diary to recordCINV (occurring after 24hrs of HEC). Patient’s outcome in terms of nausea and vomiting was evaluated by using MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) Antiemesis Tool (MAT).Results: 11.11% of smokers and smokeless tobacco consuming patients had incidence of acute and delayed vomiting while 11.11% of non habitual patients had only incidence of delayed vomiting. 22.22% of smokeless tobacco consuming patients had incidence of acute and delayed nausea while 22.22% of non habitual patients had incidence of acute vomiting. 33.33% of smokers and smokeless tobacco consuming patients had incidence of acute nausea and 27.77% of non habitual patients had incidence of acute and delayed nausea. Conclusion: The incidences of CINV were least in patients who had alcohol drinking as one of their habits (either alone or in combination) as compared to patients with other habits.

Keywords: Smoking, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, HEC, CINV.