OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with/without PCM to be prescribed post infants' vaccination in Malaysia (possible associated factors: age, types and stages of vaccination, concomitant vaccines and drugs, and/vitamins).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 2011 to 2017. The AEFI was extracted from Quests 2, 3, and 3+ System of National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). The population of vaccinated infants was obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia official website. The AEFI data were further categorized into (i) AEFI with possibility for PCM to be prescribed, and (ii) AEFI with no possibility for PCM to be prescribed. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013, Portland, USA simple and multiple logistic regression tests, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software programme, version 22.0 (IBM), New York, USA.
RESULT: Various AEFI cases (359 infants) were reported. DTaP/Hib/IPV and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) showed higher prevalence of AEFI with/without PCM to be prescribed post infants' vaccination cases per 100,000 population (2.07 and 2.21, respectively) than other types of vaccinations. DTaP/Hib/IPV (2 months) vaccination showed the highest value (3.00) among other age groups. Backward elimination presented DTaP/Hib/IPV (3-4 months) (95%CI; 0.231, 0.899%; P = 0.023) was the possible associated factor. Hepatitis B (1-5 months), DTaP/Hib/IPV (3-4 months), DTaP/Hib/IPV (5-12 months), concomitant vaccines as well as concomitant drugs and/ vitamins were the identified potential cofounders.
CONCLUSION: Prescribing and dispensing of PCM post infants' vaccination may be confined to DTaP/Hib/IPV (2-4 months) and 12 months MMR groups.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review the use of antidepressants for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients.
RESULTS: Our findings showed the mixed result of positive and negative findings in various symptoms associated with cancer patients. These studies are categorised according to the hierarchy of evidence from high to low level, namely randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, case reports, as well as other type of publications. The majority of antidepressants used in cancer patients seem to be beneficial for the treatment of depression, anxiety, hot flashes and other symptoms such as sexual dysfunction, fatigue, nicotine dependence, vasomotor symptoms, executive functions, sleep problems, pruritus, as well as for hypochondriasis. While fluoxetine was found to be associated with the reduction of antiemetic property in ondansetron, mirtazapine was identified to be a good alternative in treating nausea and cachexia among cancer patients.
CONCLUSION: More research studies with adequate statistical power are warranted to validate the use of antidepressants among cancer patients in treating these physical and psychological symptoms.