This preprint is under consideration at BMC Cancer. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research article
Begoña Soler-López
E-C-BIO, S.L.
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5853-2307
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical management and quality of life of frail patients with cancer, chronic pain and breakthrough pain (BTP) and to assess whether treatment was conditioned by their frailty status.
Methods
This was an observational study in adult frail patients with cancer, chronic background pain and BTP. Outcomes of interest collected include clinical and sociodemographic data, Karnofsky Performance Status, quality of life (EuroQoL-5D-5L), chronic pain and BTP characteristics, as well as treatments administered for their control.
Results
A total of 222 patients were included with a mean age of 68 years (range 24-91), 60.5% men, with a mean Karnofsky of 63.2%. The number of daily episodes of BTP was 3.8 (95% CI 3.3-4.3), with a duration of 34.6 minutes (95% CI 28.8-40.3), and 56.8% had a gradual onset. Opioids were administered to 88.3% of patients for the chronic pain, and to 83.8% for BTP. The treatment's daily doses administered for chronic pain and BTP did not differ from those usually recommended. Quality of life was significantly worst in frail patients with cancer than no frail patients and was related to performance status (p<0.001) and to the social-familial status (p=0.045).
Conclusions
BTP in frail patients with cancer presents with more episodes, of a shorter duration and more gradual onset compared to other patients with BTP, and Quality of life was seriously affected. No relevant differences were seen in the doses or method of administration of treatments for chronic pain and BTP in frail patients with cancer as compared to the standard recommendations for non-frail patients.
Trial registration: Not applicable to the study.
Keywords
Cancer, breakthrough pain, frailty.
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Cancer. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Begoña Soler-López
E-C-BIO, S.L.
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5853-2307
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 05 Apr, 2021
No community comments so far
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Apr, 2021
Editor assigned
On 03 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 03 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 03 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical management and quality of life of frail patients with cancer, chronic pain and breakthrough pain (BTP) and to assess whether treatment was conditioned by their frailty status.
Methods
This was an observational study in adult frail patients with cancer, chronic background pain and BTP. Outcomes of interest collected include clinical and sociodemographic data, Karnofsky Performance Status, quality of life (EuroQoL-5D-5L), chronic pain and BTP characteristics, as well as treatments administered for their control.
Results
A total of 222 patients were included with a mean age of 68 years (range 24-91), 60.5% men, with a mean Karnofsky of 63.2%. The number of daily episodes of BTP was 3.8 (95% CI 3.3-4.3), with a duration of 34.6 minutes (95% CI 28.8-40.3), and 56.8% had a gradual onset. Opioids were administered to 88.3% of patients for the chronic pain, and to 83.8% for BTP. The treatment's daily doses administered for chronic pain and BTP did not differ from those usually recommended. Quality of life was significantly worst in frail patients with cancer than no frail patients and was related to performance status (p<0.001) and to the social-familial status (p=0.045).
Conclusions
BTP in frail patients with cancer presents with more episodes, of a shorter duration and more gradual onset compared to other patients with BTP, and Quality of life was seriously affected. No relevant differences were seen in the doses or method of administration of treatments for chronic pain and BTP in frail patients with cancer as compared to the standard recommendations for non-frail patients.
Trial registration: Not applicable to the study.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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