[Analysis of the Effect of Nutritional Status on Pain Treatment in Cancer Patients Using Oral Opioid Analgesics].

ABSTRACT

In cancer patients, pain control is reportedly affected by the quality of their nutritional status as the disease progresses. We conducted a study of patients who were continuously using oral opioid analgesics for the treatment of cancer pain at Chibaken Saiseikai Narashino Hospital from September 2020 to August 2022. Patient characteristics and pain treatments were compared between the well-nourished group(mGPS 0 or 1, n=20)and poorly nourished group(mGPS 2, n=47). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of sex and the presence or absence of concomitant analgesic adjuvant(p<0.05). According to the multivariate analysis, the presence or absence of concomitant analgesic adjuvant was a significant related factor, with an odds ratio of 11.409(95% confidence interval 2.645-49.217, p=0.001). For patients in the poorly nourished group who were able to maintain a general condition that allowed for oral administration, treatment was continued without affecting pain control. In the well-nourished group, most patients used gabapentinoids as an analgesic adjuvant, whereas in the poorly nourished group, avoidable side effects, such as dizziness and lightheadedness, might affect the patient's quality of life.