Table 2.
Baseline Patient Characteristics
| High Dose n=13 (%)* | Low Dose n=17 (%)* | All patients N=30 (%)* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD) | 53 (16) | 51 (10) | 52 (13) |
| Female sex | 9 (69.2) | 11 (64.7) | 20 (66.7) |
| Race | |||
| Caucasian | 11 (84.6) | 12 (70.6) | 23 (76.7) |
| Black | 0 (0) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (3.3) |
| Hispanic | 2 (15.4) | 3 (17.6) | 5 (16.7) |
| Asian | 0 (0) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (3.3) |
| Education | |||
| High school or less | 7 (53.8) | 2 (11.8) | 9 (30.0) |
| College | 6 (46.2) | 12 (70.6) | 18 (60.0) |
| Advanced degree | 0 (0) | 3 (17.6) | 3 (10) |
| Cancer type | |||
| Breast | 2 (15.4) | 6 (35.3) | 8 (26.7) |
| Gastrointestinal | 2 (15.4) | 2 (11.8) | 4 (13.3) |
| Genitourinary | 3 (23.1) | 2 (11.8) | 5 (16.7) |
| Gynecological | 2 (15.4) | 1 (5.9) | 3 (10) |
| Head and neck | 0 (0) | 2 (11.8) | 2 (6.7) |
| Respiratory | 4 (30.8) | 3 (17.6) | 7 (23.3) |
| Others | 0 (0) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (3.3) |
| Cancer stage | |||
| Metastatic or recurrent | 10 (76.9) | 14 (82.4) | 24 (80) |
| Locally advanced | 3 (23.1) | 2 (11.8) | 5 (16.7) |
| Localized | 0 (0) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (3.3) |
| Average dyspnea NRS during breakthrough episodes over the last week, mean (SD) | 5.2 (1.9) | 5.7 (2.1) | 5.4 (2.0) |
| CAGE positivity (>=2) | 3 (23.1) | 2 (11.8) | 5 (16.7) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 1 (7.7) | 3 (17.6) | 4 (13.3) |
| Concurrent therapies (scheduled) | |||
| Opioids | 13 (100) | 17 (100) | 30 (100) |
| Bronchodilators | 1 (7.7) | 1 (5.9) | 2 (6.7) |
| Steroids | 1 (7.7) | 3 (17.6) | 4 (13.3) |
| Supplemental oxygen | 1 (7.7) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.3) |
| Concurrent therapies (as needed) | |||
| Opioids | 11 (84.6) | 14 (82.4) | 25 (83.3) |
| Bronchodilators | 4 (30.8) | 3 (17.6) | 7 (23.3) |
| Steroids | 1 (7.7) | 3 (17.6) | 4 (13.3) |
| Supplemental oxygen | 1 (7.7) | 2 (11.8) | 3 (10) |
| Bedside spirometry measures, mean (SD) | |||
| FEV1 | 2.4 (0.9) | 2.4 (0.6) | 2.4 (0.7) |
| FEV1 % predicted | 76.0 (21.6) | 79.0 (17.0) | 77.8 (18.6) |
| FVC | 2.97 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.8) | 2.9 (0.9) |
| FVC % predicted | 73.5 (21.3) | 79.2 (17.4) | 76.9 (18.8) |
| FEV1 / FVC ratio (%) | 84.0 (8.4) | 79.6 (7.8) | 81.4 (8.2) |
| Maximal inspiratory pressure, mean (SD), cm H2O | 90.8 (24.2) | 85.8 (22.5) | 88.1 (23.0) |
| Morphine equivalent daily dose in mg/day, median (IQR) | 179 (131, 227) | 193 (134, 252) | 186 (150, 224) |
| Karnofsky performance status, mean (SD) | 73.9 (10.4) | 70.6 (9.0) | 72 (9.6) |
| Edmonton Symptom Assessment System | |||
| Pain | 5.9 (2.7) | 4.8 (2.0) | 5.3 (2.4) |
| Fatigue | 5.2 (1.8) | 3.9 (2.5) | 4.4 (2.3) |
| Nausea | 2.8 (3.9) | 0.8 (1.6) | 1.7 (2.9) |
| Depression | 1.2 (1.5) | 1.9 (2.4) | 1.6 (2.1) |
| Anxiety | 2.1 (1.9) | 3.0 (2.5) | 2.6 (2.3) |
| Drowsiness | 4.5 (2.6) | 3.1 (2.8) | 3.7 (2.8) |
| Shortness of breath | 3.8 (2.1) | 3.8 (2.5) | 3.8 (2.3) |
| Appetite | 3.1 (2.7) | 2.8 (2.5) | 2.9 (2.5) |
| Sleep | 3.1 (2.2) | 4.2 (3.4) | 3.7 (2.9) |
| Feeling of well being | 2.6 (1.9) | 3.9 (2.3) | 3.4 (2.2) |
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; NRS, numeric rating scale; SD, standard deviation
*
Unless otherwise specified.