ArticleThe oncologist2020
Breakthrough Cancer Pain in Patients Receiving Low Doses of Opioids for Background Pain.
Article in The oncologist, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Scheduled and Breakthrough Opioid Use for Cancer Pain in an Inpatient Setting at a Tertiary Cancer Hospital.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2024Article
- Once again... breakthrough cancer pain: an updated overview.Journal of anesthesia, analgesia and critical care · 2023Review
- Fentanyl in cancer pain management: avoiding hasty judgments and discerning its potential benefits.Drugs in context · 2023Review
- Prostate cancer induced bone pain: pathobiology, current treatments and pain responses from recent clinical trials.Discover oncology · 2022Review
- Efficacy of adenosylmethionine combined with Si Mo Tang in treatment of neonatal jaundice.American journal of translational research · 2022Article
- Relationship between breakthrough cancer pain, background cancer pain and analgesic treatment - case series and review of the literature.Drugs in context · 2022Review
- Characterizing Breakthrough Cancer Pain Using Ecological Momentary Assessment with a Smartphone App: Feasibility and Clinical Findings.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- The Prevalence and Characteristics of Breakthrough Cancer Pain in Patients Receiving Low Doses of Opioids for Background Pain.Cancers · 2021Article
- Review
- The Endless Question of Opioid Doses for Breakthrough Pain.The oncologist · 2020Article
- Opioids for Breakthrough Cancer Pain.The oncologist · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to assess the characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients receiving low doses of opioids for background pain in comparison with patients receiving at least 60 mg of oral morphine equivalents (OME). MATERIALS AND
methodsPatients with advanced cancer receiving less than 60 mg/day of OME with episodes of BTcP were included in the analysis (group L). Data were compared with patients receiving doses of opioids ≥60 mg of OME (group H). Pain intensity, current analgesic therapy, number of BTcP episodes, intensity of BTcP, its predictability and triggers, onset duration, interference with daily activities, BTcP medications, and time to meaningful pain relief were collected. Adverse effects imputable to a BTcP medication were recorded.
resultsA total of 1,418 and 2,474 patients were included in groups L and H, respectively. A lower number of BTcP episodes (p = .005), a lower BTcP intensity (p = .0001), a faster BTcP onset (p = .024), and a longer time to meaningful pain relief after taking a BTcP medication (p = .009) were found in group L as compared with group H. In group L, BTcP interference on daily activity was less than in group H (p = .009). Patients in group L were less likely to be prescribed an opioid as BTcP medication in comparison with patients in group H (p = .0001). Opioid doses used for BTcP were significantly higher in group H. Patients in group L were more likely to be less satisfied (p = .003) than patients in group H. No adverse effects of severe intensity were reported in both groups.
conclusionPatients receiving lower doses of opioids exhibit some differences in BTcP presentation: fewer episodes with lower intensity and a faster onset, a longer time to meaningful pain relief, and less satisfaction with BTcP medication. A relevant percentage of patients was receiving fentanyl preparations normally reserved for patients receiving higher doses of opioids. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Breakthrough pain is present in patients receiving low doses of opioids. It has its own peculiarities: less frequent, lower intensity, faster onset, longer time to meaningful pain relief, and less satisfaction with medication. Many patients were prescribed fentanyl preparations, which are normally reserved for patients receiving higher doses of opioids.
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