Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42242759›Full record

Trial reportThe European respiratory journal2026

Fentanyl or morphine for persistent dyspnoea in COPD: a multicentre randomised crossover trial.

Marlies van Dijk, Kris J M Mooren, Wendy van Beurden-Moeskops, Roxane Heller-Baan, Sander M de Hosson, Remge M Pieterman, Wai Yee Lam-Wong, Liesbeth Peters, Karin Pool, Jan-Willem K van den Berg and 1 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in The European respiratory journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Marlies van DijkDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands m.van.dijk05@umcg.nl.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2043-1276
Kris J M MoorenDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Wendy van Beurden-MoeskopsDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Roxane Heller-BaanDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Ikazia Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Sander M de HossonDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis Assen, Assen, The Netherlands.
Remge M PietermanDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Ommelander Ziekenhuis Groningen, Scheemda, The Netherlands.
Wai Yee Lam-WongDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Elkerliek Ziekenhuis, Helmond, The Netherlands.
Liesbeth PetersDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
Karin PoolDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
Jan-Willem K van den BergDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5259-0482
Huib A M KerstjensDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7705-7927

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOne of the most prevalent and impactful symptoms in COPD is persistent dyspnoea, occurring in the majority of patients with advanced COPD. Opioids, mostly morphine, have been investigated and suggested as treatment in palliative care guidelines. However, in recent years multiple trials on morphine for persistent dyspnoea have shown no clinical benefit, and there are concerns regarding adverse events. Transdermal fentanyl has not yet been investigated for this indication.

methodsWe performed a multicentre, crossover, double-dummy randomised controlled trial, investigating transdermal fentanyl (12 μg·h

resultsBetween April 2019 and November 2024, 59 randomisations were performed in 58 participants (mean±sd 69±7 years; 54% female; FEV

conclusionThis study demonstrated no positive effect of transdermal fentanyl nor oral morphine compared to placebo in the treatment of persistent dyspnoea in COPD.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidDyspneaFentanylMorphinePulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveAdministration, CutaneousAgedAnxietyCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodFemaleForced Expiratory VolumeHumansHypercapniaMaleMiddle AgedAnalgesics, OpioidFentanylMorphine

Identifiers

PMID42242759
PMCPMC13446205

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.