Table 1.
Characteristics at baseline of patients receiving transdermal fentanyl or sustained release oral morphine. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristic | Randomised to fentanyl first (n=126) | Randomised to morphine first (n=130) |
|---|---|---|
| Female:male | 60:66 | 60:70 |
| Mean age (range) in years | 50.9 (28-82) | 51.9 (26-82) |
| Mean weight (range) in kg | 74.3 (38-138) | 77.9 (45-130) |
| Mean height (range) in cm | 170 (144-200) | 170.5 (151-196) |
| White | 125 (99) | 126 (97) |
| Other | 1 (1) | 4 (3) |
| Mean (SE) duration of chronic pain (range) in years | 9.5 (0.74) (0.2-50) | 9.1 (0.73) (0.3-46) |
| Pain type: | ||
| Neuropathic | 31 (25) | 35 (27) |
| Nociceptive | 64 (51) | 64 (49) |
| Combined neuropathic and nociceptive | 31 (25) | 31 (24) |
| Classification of (most common) pain*: | ||
| Axis I: region | ||
| Lower back | 52 (41) | 50 (39) |
| Lower limbs | 27 (21) | 32 (25) |
| Axis II: system | ||
| Musculoskeletal or connective tissue | 51 (41) | 64 (50) |
| Nervous system | 61 (48) | 47 (36) |
| Axis III: temporal characteristics | ||
| Continuous, fluctuating severity | 52 (41) | 62 (48) |
| Continuous, non-fluctuating severity | 38 (30) | 32 (25) |
| Axis IV: intensity; time since onset | ||
| Medium (>6 months) | 27 (21) | 34 (26) |
| Mild (>6 months) | 4 (3) | 2 (2) |
| Axis V: aetiology | ||
| Degenerative or mechanical | 40 (32) | 46 (36) |
| Trauma, operation, or burns | 37 (29) | 33 (26) |
| Opioid use before trial: | ||
| Morphine or morphine sulphate | 91 (72) | 103 (79) |
| Efficacy evaluation “bad” or “very bad” | 9 (10) | 15 (15) |
*
According to the International Association for the Study of Pain.