Risk of respiratory and urinary tract infections in patients treated with docetaxel compared with afatinib: A retrospective cohort study based on an administrative claims database

Abstract

Abstract Background The relative incidence of infection in patients treated with cytotoxic anticancer drugs and molecular targeted drugs is unclear. Aim To compare the incidence of respiratory and urinary tract infections in patients treated for lung cancer with docetaxel versus afatinib. Method Data on patients who received docetaxel or afatinib between 2010 and 2019 were obtained from an administrative claims database. After propensity score matching, the incidence of respiratory and urinary tract infections in the docetaxel and afatinib groups were compared. Factors associated with respiratory and urinary tract infections were evaluated using multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis. Results After propensity score matching, 855 patients were included in each group. The incidence of respiratory infections was significantly higher in the docetaxel group than in the afatinib group (22.6% [193/855] vs. 13.9% [119/855]; p < 0.01). The incidence of urinary tract infections did not differ significantly by group. Docetaxel was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of respiratory infections (adjusted odds ratio: 1.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.23–2.29), but not urinary tract infections. Conclusion Patients receiving docetaxel for lung cancer have an increased risk of developing respiratory infections. Further basic research is required to elucidate the mechanism underlying this increased risk.