Scientific evidence on treatments of chronic diseases in patients 85 years old or older is very limited, as is available information on inappropriate prescription (IP) and its associated factors. The study aimed to describe medicine prescription, potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM) and potentially prescribing omissions (PPO) and their associated factors on this population. In the context of an observational, prospective and multicentric study carried out in elderly patients admitted to seven Spanish hospitals for a year, a sub-analysis of those aged 85 years and over was performed. To assess PIMs, the Beers and STOPP criteria were used, and to assess PPOs, the START and the ACOVE-3 criteria were used. To assess factors associated with IP, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Patients were selected randomly every week on consecutive days from the hospitalization lists. A total of 336 patients were included in the sub-analysis with a median (Q1-Q3) age of 88 (86–90) years. The median medicines taken during the month prior to admission was 10 (7–13). Forty-seven point two per cent of patients had at least one Beers-listed PIM, 63.3% at least one STOPP-listed PIM, 53.6% at least one START-listed PPO, and 59.4% at least one ACOVE-3-listed PPO. Use of benzodiazepines in patients who are prone to falls (18.3%) and omission of calcium and vitamin D supplements in patients with osteoporosis (13.3%) were the most common PIM and PPO, respectively. The main factor associated with the Beers-listed and the STOPP-listed PIM was consumption of 10 or more medicines (OR = 5.7, 95% CI 1.8-17.9 and OR = 13.4, 95% CI 4.0-44.0, respectively). The main factors associated with the START-listed PPO was a non-community dwelling origin (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.0), and multimorbidity (OR1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.1). Prescribed medicines and PIM and PPO prevalence were high among patients 85 years and over. Benzodiazepine use in those who are prone to falls and omission of calcium and vitamin D in those with osteoporosis were the most frequent PIM and PPO, respectively. Factors associated with PIM and PPO differed with polypharmacy being the most important factor associated with PIM.

The aim of this study was to assess adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, comparing the BNT162b2 or the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines and the presence and seriousness of a previous COVID-19 infection. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of vaccinated healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona (Spain). Thirty-eight percent of vaccine recipients responded to the questionnaire. We compared the prevalence of adverse reactions by vaccine type and history of COVID-19 infections. A total of 2373 respondents had received the BNT162b2 vaccine, and 506 the mRNA-1273 vaccine. The prevalence of at least one adverse reaction with doses 1 and 2 was 41% and 70%, respectively, in the BNT162b2 group, and 60% and 92% in the mRNA-1273 group (p < 0.001). The BNT162b2 group reported less prevalence of all adverse reactions. Need for medical leave was significantly more frequent among the mRNA-1273 group (12% versus 4.6% p < 0.001). Interestingly, respondents with a history of allergies or chronic illnesses did not report more adverse reactions. The frequency of adverse reactions with dose 2 was 96% (95% CI 88–100%) for those with a history of COVID-19 related hospitalization, and 86% (95% CI 83–89%) for those with mild or moderate symptomatic COVID-19, significantly higher than for participants with no history of COVID-19 infections (67%, 95% CI 65–69%). Our results could help inform vaccine recipients of the probability of their having adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

Importance: Acute adverse events (AEs) after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell infusion are well documented, but less information is available regarding the long-term toxic effects.Objective: To assess the occurrence of late AEs for adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with commercially available CD19-targeted CAR T cells.Design, Setting, and Participants: A prospective, observational, clinical practice cohort study was conducted from September 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, among 172 adult patients in 6 Spanish hospitals who received CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory LBCL and survived at least 3 months after infusion, without subsequent antilymphoma therapy.Exposure: Treatment with tisagenlecleucel or axicabtagene ciloleucel.Main Outcomes and Measures: Data on any late AEs occurring in this patient population were collected until the patients received new antilymphoma therapy, were lost to follow-up, died, or reached 24 months after infusion, whichever occurred first. Data collection for each patient started at the third month after infusion and included new-onset AEs, as well as persistent AEs that started earlier but were still ongoing at that time point.Results: The study enrolled 172 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.5 [13.7] years; 101 men [58.7%]), of whom 135 (78.5%) experienced at least 1 late AE of any grade. Infections were the late AEs with the highest incidence (5.6 per 100 person-months [95% CI, 4.5-7.0 per 100 person-months]), followed by neutropenia (3.6 per 100 person-months [95% CI, 2.9-4.5 per 100 person-months]) and thrombocytopenia (2.2 per 100 person-months [95% CI, 1.7-3.0 per 100 person-months]). The incidence of infectious episodes remained stable during the whole study period, while cytopenias decreased beyond 6 months after infusion. All cases of nonrelapse-related mortality were due to infections (COVID-19 pneumonia in 3 patients and sepsis or bacterial pneumonia in 4 patients). Twenty-three patients (13.4%) experienced 27 dermatologic AEs, all mild, with most of them (88.9% [24 of 27]) starting beyond 3 months after infusion. Fifteen neurologic AEs were reported in 15 patients (8.7%), and 10 patients (5.8%) developed 13 cardiovascular AEs. Five secondary neoplasms were reported in 4 patients (2.3%), with no cases of T-cell malignant neoplasms.Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study suggests that CAR T-cell therapy has a favorable safety profile. However, continuous follow-up of patients is needed, as serious AEs can occur years after infusion.