Table 1.
Differences between patients on transdermal fentanyl and buprenorphine.
| Parameter | Fentanyl (1:100) | Buprenorphine (1:100) | Buprenorphine (1:80) | Peroral opioids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 292 | 93 | 88 | |
| Average age (yr) | 76.27 ± 6.75 | 76.68 ± 6.59 | 78.64 ± 7.42 | |
| Female (%) | 150 (51.4) | 45 (48.4) | 41 (46.6) | |
| Cancer patients (%) | 272 (93.1) | 88 (94.6) | 73 (82.9) | |
| Number of patients died (%) | 261 (89.4) | 83 (89.2) | 74 (84.1) | |
| Initial opioid dose (OME) | 105.21 ± 91.80 | 123.29 ± 104.46 | 102.11 ± 89.16 | 15.07 ± 17.47 |
| Last opioid dose (OME) | 144.30 ± 97.30 | 161.17 ± 104.02 | 133.76 ± 89.97 | 18.15 ± 18.63 |
| Absolute difference | 39.09 | 37.88 | 31.65 | 3.08 |
| Percentage difference | 37.1 | 23.5 | 30.99 | 20.4 |
| Patients with dose elevation (%) | 120 (41.1) | 38 (40.8) | 15 (17.0) | |
| Patients with dose reduction (%) | 3 (1.0) | 1 (1.1) | 3 (3.4) | |
| Days in hospice ± SD | 16.40 ± 19.36 | 14.98 ± 17.82 | 12.86 ± 15.78 | |
| Performance score ± SD | 3.19 ± 0.96 | 3.25 ± 0.85 | 3.22 ± 0.92 | |
| Additional peroral opioids (%) | 222 (76.0) | 68 (73.1) | n/a | |
| Additional anxiolytic (%) | 154 (52.7) | 44 (47.3) | 36 (40.9) | |
| Additional NSAID (%) | 108 (36.9) | 33 (35.5) | 47 (53.4) | |
| Additional antipsychotic (%) | 91 (31.2) | 30 (32.2) | 33 (37.5) | |
OME = oral morphine equivalent, mg/day. NSAID = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The performance score is rated from 0 to 4, with 0 being fully mobile patients and 4 being bedridden patients.