Table 1 Patient background
From: Safety profile of prophylactic rescue dosing of immediate-release oral opioids in cancer patients
| Patient background factor | Prophylactic rescue | Regular rescue | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 68 | n = 35 | ||
| Distribution of immediate-release opioids, n (%) | |||
| Morphine syrup | 38 (55.9) | 14 (40.0) | 0.15 a |
| Oxycodone powder | 30 (44.1) | 21(60.0) | |
| Median single rescue dose (mg)d | |||
| All patients | 5 (3.75–15) | 3.75 (3.75–15) | 0.63 b |
| Morphine syrup | 5 (5–15) | 5 (5–15) | 0.38 b |
| Oxycodone powder | 3.75 (3.75–15) | 3.75 (3.75–15) | 0.32 b |
| Median total rescue dose (mg/day)d | |||
| All patients | 15 (0–45) | 10 (0–40) | 0.21 b |
| Morphine syrup | 15 (0–40) | 10 (0–40) | 0.32 b |
| Oxycodone powder | 7.5 (0–45) | 7.5 (0–30) | 0.36 b |
| Distribution of extended-release opioids, n (%) | 0.17 c | ||
| 12-h extended-release oral morphine | 27 (39.8) | 8 (22.9) | |
| 12-h extended-release oral oxycodone | 24 (35.2) | 19 (54.2) | |
| 12-h extended-release oral tapentadol | 3 (4.4) | 1 (2.9) | |
| 1-day extended-release fentanyl patch | 1 (1.5) | 2 (5.7) | |
| None | 13 (19.1) | 5 (14.3) | |
| Median regular dose of extended-release opioid (mg/day) d | 15 (0–75) | 15 (0–90) | 0.52b |
| Median duration of rescue dose (day) | 21 (7–178) | 17 (7–142) | 0.51b |
| Median frequency of rescue dose (times/day) | 3 (0–8) | 2 (0–8) | 0.30b |
| Median age (range) | 69 (37–94) | 69 (21–86) | 0.19b |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Men | 45 (23) | 22 (70.3) | 0.64a |
| Women | 14 (35.0) | 13 (29.7) | |
| Performance status, n (%) | |||
| ≤ 2 | 46 (45.0) | 21 (51.2) | 0.66a |
| ≥ 3 | 22 (55.0) | 20 (48.8) | |
| Distribution of carcinoma, n (%) | 0.43 c | ||
| Head and neck cancer | 17 (25.0) | 9 (25.7) | |
| Lung cancer | 18 (26.5) | 7 (20.0) | |
| Breast cancer | 3 (4.4) | 2 (5.7) | |
| Digestive system cancer | 15 (22.1) | 10 (28.6) | |
| Urological cancer | 5 (7.4) | 1 (2.9) | |
| Gynecological cancer | 3 (4.4) | 3 (8.6) | |
| Skin cancer | 2 (2.9) | 1 (2.9) | |
| Others | 5 (7.4) | 2 (5.7) | |
| Renal dysfunction, n (%) | 11 (25.0) | 5 (36.7) | 0.34a |
| Hepatic dysfunction, n (%) | 13 (27.5) | 6 (36.7) | 0.48a |