title: Prescribing of zoledronic acid in a tertiary outpatient hospital setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zoledronic acid (ZA) is an intravenous bisphosphonate approved for the prevention and treatment of cancer skeletal-related events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to analyze the prescription patterns of ZA in the cancer outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who received at least 1 dose of ZA from January 2009 until December 2010 in our institution. The patients' follow-up period was defined from the administration of the first dose until February 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 345 patients: 31.9 % had breast cancer, 14.5 % prostate cancer, 29.0 % multiple myeloma, and 24.6 % other solid tumors. A total of 4,546 doses were administered; 2,749 (60.5 %) without intravenous chemotherapy. 71.1 % of patients with breast cancer, 86 % with prostate cancer, 60 % with multiple myeloma and 44.6 % with other solid tumors, received ZA without intravenous chemotherapy throughout bisphosphonate treatment. Doses were adjusted in one-third of cases. Administration every 4-weeks was the most frequent schedule. Median duration of treatment varied between 15.0 months for breast cancer and 4.2 months for other solid tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of ZA prescriptions in cancer outpatients followed the labeled indications. The percentage of ZA doses administered without intravenous chemotherapy was 60.5 %.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Service, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. hangladamartinez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anglada-Martínez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: do Pazo-Oubiña
authors.forename: Glòria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molas-Ferrer
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estefanell-Tejero
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riu-Viladoms
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas-Sala
authors.forename: Natàlia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Creus-Baró
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056687:Off-Label Use; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000639:trends*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000639:trends*; D013997:Time Factors; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid