Potentially preventable unplanned hospitalizations due to adverse events in patients receiving systemic anticancer therapy: a retrospective single-center study

Purpose Unplanned hospitalizations during systemic anticancer therapy remain a major clinical challenge. This study aimed to investigate the causes of unplanned hospitalizations associated with systemic anticancer therapy-related adverse events and to assess their potential preventability. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of unplanned hospitalizations due to adverse events related to systemic anticancer therapy between March 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. The type, severity, and treatment of adverse events leading to unplanned hospitalization were reviewed. The preventability of these hospitalizations was assessed by a multidisciplinary team (pharmacists, physicians, and nurses) based on domestic and international guidelines and previous reports. Results A total of 161 cases of unplanned hospitalizations due to systemic anticancer therapy-related adverse events were identified. Among these, 30 cases (18.6%) were considered potentially preventable. The types of potentially preventable interventions included optimization of supportive care, such as G-CSF prophylaxis, antimicrobial prophylaxis, and antiemetic optimization (15 cases); optimization of anticancer therapy, including dose reduction/modification (6 cases); early detection and management, including enhanced monitoring and patient education (6 cases); and preventive measures before anticancer therapy, including varicella-zoster virus vaccination (5 cases). Conclusions Approximately 20% of unplanned hospitalizations related to systemic anticancer therapy were potentially preventable. Optimization of supportive care and enhancement of medical care systems could reduce unplanned hospitalizations.