Impact of a Tripartite Collaboration between Oncologist, Pharmacist and Diabetologist in the Management of Patients with Diabetes Starting Chemotherapy: The ONCODIAB Trial

Abstract

Background: Diabetes negatively impacts cancer prognosis. The objective of this work was to evaluate a tripartite oncologist–pharmacist–diabetologist collaboration in the management of patients with diabetes starting chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: The prospective ONCODIAB study (NCT04315857) included 102 adults with diabetes starting chemotherapy by whom a continuous glucose monitoring device was worn for fourteen days from the first day of the first and second chemotherapy cycles. The primary outcome was to assess pharmacist and diabetologist interventions. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the impact of the ONCODIAB follow-up on individualized patient glycemic targets at 6 months. Results: A total of 191 (2 per patient) were made either by clinical pharmacists (n = 95) or diabetologists (n = 96) during the first two chemotherapy cycles. The anatomic therapeutic chemical drug classes most frequently involved in pharmacist interventions were cardiovascular system (23%), alimentary tract and metabolism (22%), and anti-infectives for systemic use (14%). Diabetologists modified the antidiabetic treatment in 58 (62%) of patients: dose reduction (34%), drug discontinuation (28%), drug addition (24%), and dose increase (15%). Glycated hemoglobin decreased from 7.6 ± 1.7% at baseline to 7.1 ± 1.1% at 6 months (p = 0.02). Compared to individualized targets, HbA1c was higher, in the interval, or lower in 29%, 44%, and 27% of patients at baseline vs. in 8%, 70%, and 22% of patients at 6 months, respectively (p < 10−3). Conclusions: In our study, a close collaboration between oncologists, pharmacists, and diabetologists helped by continuous glucose monitoring led to overall medication optimization and better glycemic control in patients with diabetes starting chemotherapy.