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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

  1. a) Fisher’s exact test
  2. b) Mann–Whitney U test
  3. c) Cochran-Armitage trend test
  4. d) Converted to oral morphine equivalent doses
  5. (oral morphine/oral oxycodone/oral tapentadol/fentanyl patch = 30:20:100:1)