Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42487095›Full record

ArticleDrugs & aging2026

The Association Between Anticholinergic Burden and Treatment-Related Complications in Older Adults with Cancer.

Edwin J Brokaar, Stella Trompet, Johanneke E A Portielje, Loes E Visser, Simon P Mooijaart, Anna Uit den Boogaard, Joosje C Baltussen, Yara van Holstein, Frederiek van den Bos

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In one paragraph

Article in Drugs & aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Edwin J BrokaarDepartment of Internal Medicine-Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. e.brokaar@hagaziekenhuis.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-9678
Stella TrompetDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5006-0528
Johanneke E A PortieljeDepartment of Internal Medicine-Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5169-6306
Loes E VisserDepartment of Pharmacy, Haga Teaching Hospital, Els Borst-Eilersplein 275, PO Box 40551, 2504 LN, The Hague, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1421-6246
Simon P MooijaartDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Anna Uit den BoogaardDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8427-8135
Joosje C BaltussenDepartment of Internal Medicine-Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8635-2581
Yara van HolsteinDepartment of Internal Medicine-Clinical Geriatrics, Haga Teaching Hospital, PO Box 40551, 2504 LN, The Hague, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6882-639X
Frederiek van den BosDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University Medical Center Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1426-3509

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlder adults constitute more than 50% of newly diagnosed cancer cases and polypharmacy is highly prevalent in this population. The Anticholinergic Burden (ACB) score quantifies the cumulative anticholinergic effects of all medications. Few studies link high ACB to adverse health outcomes in this population, and its effect on treatment outcomes remains largely unknown.

objectiveThis study investigates the association between the ACB-score and treatment-related toxicity (grade ≥ 3), functional decline, and emergency room (ER) visits or hospitalization in older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy.

methodData from the Triage of Elderly Needing Treatment study were used and patients aged ≥ 70 years were included before start of chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy. Medication use was used to calculate the ACB score; ACB ≥ 3 was defined as high. The primary outcome was the association between ACB score and grade ≥ 3 toxicity. Associations were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.

results434 patients were included with a median age of 75.4 years; 56% were male and 15% had a high ACB-score. Grade ≥ 3 toxicity occurred more frequently in the high ACB group (OR 2.04, p = 0.013). In the multivariable model, ACB score and frailty were associated with grade ≥ 3 toxicity (OR 1.99, p = 0.022 and OR 1.79, p = 0.007).

conclusionsHigh ACB is associated with poorer outcomes in older adults with cancer in addition to the known risk for toxicity of frailty.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCholinergic AntagonistsNeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overEmergency Room VisitsFemaleHospitalizationHumansMalePolypharmacyAntineoplastic AgentsCholinergic Antagonists

Identifiers

PMID42487095
PMCPMC13427958

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.