Table 1.
Demographic and baseline characteristics of the intention-to-treat study population (n=53)
| Characteristic | All patients (n=53) |
|---|---|
| Age, years | 83.0±5.9 |
| >80 years, n (%) | 34 (64.1) |
| Females/males, n (%) | 35/18 (66.0/34.0) |
| Pain intensity | |
| NRS | 6.6±1.0 |
| PAINAD | 6.9±1.6 |
| Severe pain,a n (%) | 29 (54.7) |
| Nociceptive | 47 (88.7) |
| Mixed | 3 (5.6) |
| Neuropathic, peripheral | 2 (3.8) |
| Neuropathic, central | 1 (1.9) |
| Cause of pain, n (%) | |
| Osteoarthritis | 25 (47.2) |
| Bone fractures | 19 (35.8) |
| Arthroplasty | 6 (11.3) |
| Diabetic polyneuropathy | 2 (3.8) |
| Stroke | 1 (1.9) |
| Analgesic therapy, n (%) | |
| No analgesics | 22 (41.5) |
| Acetaminophen | 18 (34.0) |
| NSAIDs | 7 (13.2) |
| Codeine | 3 (5.6) |
| Tramadol | 3 (5.6) |
| Adjuvants, n (%) | 18 (34.0) |
| Rescue analgesics,b n (%) | 17 (32.1) |
| MMSE | 18.6±3.0 |
| NPI | 25.5±27.3 |
| Barthel index | 32.2±16.8 |
| CIRS-G Severity Index | 2.1±0.7 |
| CIRS-G Comorbidity Index | 3.9±1.7 |
| BFI | 25.6±19.7 |
| Use of laxatives, n (%) | 21 (39.6) |
Notes: All values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or n (%).
a
Severe pain defined by NRS or PAINAD score >6.
b
Oral acetaminophen, 500–1,000 mg, taken in addition to current analgesics.
Abbreviations: BFI, Bowel Function Index; CIRS-G, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric version; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; NPI, Neuropsychiatric Inventory; NRS, numerical rating scale; PAINAD, Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.