Procedural pain in patients with cancer: a Delphi expert management consensus.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis, treatment and care of cancer often involve procedures that may be distressing and potentially painful for patients. The PROCEDIO Study aimed to generate expert-based recommendations on the management of moderate to severe procedural pain in inpatients and outpatients with cancer. METHODS: Using a two-round Delphi method, experts from pain and palliative care units, medical and radiation oncology and haematology departments expressed their agreement on 24 statements using a 9-point Likert scale, which were classified as appropriate (median 7-9), uncertain (4-6) or inappropriate (1-3). Consensus was achieved if at least two-thirds of the panel scored within the range containing the median. RESULTS: With an overall agreement on the current definition of procedural pain, participants suggested a wider description based on evidence and their clinical experience. A strong consensus was achieved regarding the need for a comprehensive pre-procedural pain assessment and experts emphasised that healthcare professionals involved in procedural pain management should be adequately trained. Most panellists (98.2%) agreed that pharmacological treatment should be chosen considering the duration of the procedure. Transmucosal fentanyl (96.5%) and morphine (71.7%) were recommended as the most appropriate drugs. Oral and nasal transmucosal fentanyl were agreed as the most suitable for both outpatients and inpatients, while consensus was reached for intravenous and subcutaneous morphine for inpatients. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide updated expert-based recommendations on the definition, prevention and treatment of moderate to severe procedural pain, which could inform specialists involved in pain management of patients with cancer.

One-year efficacy and safety of naloxegol on symptoms and quality of life related to opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer: KYONAL study.

OBJECTIVES: Naloxegol is a peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) for treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The main objective was to analyse the long-term efficacy, quality of life (QOL) and safety of naloxegol in patients with cancer in a real-world study. METHODS: This one-year prospective study included patients older than 18 years, with active oncological disease who were under treatment with opioids for pain control and Karnofsky≥50 and OIC with inadequate response to treatment with laxative (s). All the patients received treatment with naloxegol according to clinical criteria. The main efficacy objectives were measured by the patient assessment of constipation QOL questionnaire (PAC-QOL), the PAC symptoms (PAC-SYM), the response rate at day 15, and months 1-3-6-12, and global QOL (EuroQoL-5D-5L). RESULTS: A total of 126 patients (58.7% males) with a mean age of 61.5 years (95% CI 59.4 to 63.7) were included. PAC-SYM and PAC-QOL total score and all their dimensions improved from baseline (p<0.0001). At 12 months, 77.8% of the patients were responders to naloxegol treatment. Global QOL was conserved from baseline. A total of 28 adverse reactions, mainly gastrointestinal were observed in 15.1% of the patients (19/126), being 75% (21) mild, 17.9% (5) moderate and 7.1% (2) severe. Most adverse reactions (67.9%) appeared the first 15 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this first long-term and real-world-data study in patients with cancer, showed the sustained efficacy and safety of naloxegol for the treatment of OIC in this group of patients.

Efficacy of naloxegol on symptoms and quality of life related to opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer: a 3-month follow-up analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) can affect up to 63% of all patients with cancer. The objectives of this study were to assess quality of life as well as efficacy and safety of naloxegol, in patients with cancer with OIC. METHODS: An observational study was made of a cohort of patients with cancer and with OIC exhibiting an inadequate response to laxatives and treated with naloxegol. The sample consisted of adult outpatients with a Karnofsky performance status score ≥50. The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) were applied for 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients (58.2% males) with a mean age of 61.3 years (range 34-89) were included. Clinically relevant improvements (>0.5 points) were recorded in the PAC-QOL and PAC-SYM questionnaires (p<0.0001) from 15 days of treatment. The number of days a week with complete spontaneous bowel movements increased significantly (p<0.0001) from 2.4 to 4.6 on day 15, 4.7 after 1 month and 5 after 3 months. Pain control significantly improved (p<0.0001) during follow-up. A total of 13.5% of the patients (17/126) presented some gastrointestinal adverse reaction, mostly of mild (62.5%) or moderate intensity (25%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant improvements in OIC-related quality of life, number of bowel movements and constipation-related symptoms were recorded as early as after 15 days of treatment with naloxegol in patients with cancer and OIC, with a good safety profile.

Real-life management of patients with breakthrough cancer pain caused by bone metastases in Spain.

Purpose: We aimed to explore the characteristics, and real-life therapeutic management of patients with breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) caused by bone metastases in Spain, and to evaluate physicians' opinion of and satisfaction with prescribed BTcP therapy. Participants and methods: For the purposes of this study, an ad-hoc questionnaire was developed consisting of two domains: a) organizational aspects and care standards; b) clinical and treatment variables of bone metastatic BTcP patients. In addition, physicians' satisfaction with their prescribed BTcP therapy was assessed. Specialists collected data from up to five patients receiving treatment for BTcP caused by bone metastasis, all patients gave their consent to participate prior to inclusion. Results: A total of 103 cancer pain specialists (radiation oncologists [38.8%], pain specialists [33.0%], and palliative care (PC) specialists [21.4%]) were polled, and data on 386 BTcP patients with bone metastatic disease were collected. Only 33% of the specialists had implemented specific protocols for BTcP management, and 19.4% had established referral protocols for this group of patients. Half of all participants (50.5%) address quality of life and quality of care in their patients; however, only 27.0% did so from the patient's perspective, as they should do. Most patients had multiple metastases and were prescribed rapid-onset fentanyl preparations (71.2%), followed by immediate-release morphine (9.3%) for the treatment of BTcP. Rapid-onset fentanyl was prescribed more often in PC units (79.0%) than in pain units (75.9%) and radiation oncology units (61.1%) (p<0.01). Furthermore, most physicians (71.8%) were satisfied with the BTcP therapy prescribed. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the need for routine assessment of quality of life in patients with bone BTcP. These findings also underscore the necessity for a multidisciplinary therapeutic strategy for breakthrough pain in clinical practice in Spain.

Expert consensus on the management of breakthrough cancer pain in older patients. A Delphi study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to generate expert-based recommendations on the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in older patients with cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A two-round multidisciplinary Delphi study. Specialists rated their agreement with a set of statements using a nine-point Likert scale (one = totally disagree and nine = totally agree). Statements were classified as appropriate (median ranged from seven to nine), irrelevant (median ranged from four to six) or inappropriate (median ranged from one to three). Consensus was established when at least two thirds of the panel scored within any of the ranges. RESULTS: A total of 64 specialists from pain units (44.4%), palliative care units (25.4%), medical oncology (19.1%), geriatric medicine (7.9%) and others (3.2%), participated in two consultation rounds. Specialists agreed that effective coordination between the different specialties and levels of care is essential for proper management of BTcP. Most participants (81.3%) supported the assessment of frailty and resolved (96.8%) that frailty status is a better indicator of patient needs than biological age. Participants agreed (75.8%) in the application of the Davies algorithm for diagnosis of BTcP in older patients. A strong consensus was achieved regarding which pharmacological treatment (transmucosal fentanyl) and dosing method (start low and go slow) are the most suitable for the older population. No agreement was reached on how interventionist techniques should be integrated into the therapeutic strategy for BTcP. CONCLUSIONS: The present Delphi has generated a set of recommendations that will help healthcare professionals in the management of BTcP in older patients.

Observational Study Evaluating the Economic Impact of Breakthrough Pain in Cancer Patients in Clinical Practice in Spain: The IMDI Study.

INTRODUCTION: Breakthrough pain (BTP) has great repercussions on the quality of life, and on the use of health resources. The scope of BTP costs in cancer patients is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic cost of BTP in patients with cancer and the relationship with their quality of life. METHODS: A 1-month observational prospective cost-of-illness study was designed. The patients recorded the consumption of health resources and drugs related to BTP in a diary. The current symptoms in Edmonton Symptoms Assessment Scale (ESAS) and their quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30, version 3) were assessed. The direct medical and non-medical costs fixed and variable and the indirect costs of the patient and the caregivers were evaluated. Factors related to cost and quality of life were identified using linear generalized models (LGM) type gamma and logistic link. Participants were oncologic patients with BTP, older than 18 years, with controlled basal pain. RESULTS: Eight Spanish pain units, eight palliative care units, and one oncology department included 152 patients. One hundred patients (65.8%) were male and the mean age was 66.8 years (95% CI 64.8-68.8). The total cost per patient was 2941.60 euros per month: 88% direct medical costs, 5% non-medical direct costs, and 7% indirect costs due to lost productivity. A better score in EORTC QLQ-30 quality of life was associated with a reduction in overall costs. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the results of the first real-life prospective study evaluating the cost of illness of BTP in cancer patients demonstrating that the presence of breakthrough pain in a cancer patient causes a very significant increase in healthcare costs. FUNDING: Kyowa Kirin Farmacéutica, S.L.U.

Evaluation of the quality of care of elderly patients with chronic and breakthrough pain treated with opioids: SAND study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of care of elderly patients with treatment for chronic pain (CP) and breakthrough pain (BTP). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 20 pain units, selecting patients aged 70 years or older with baseline controlled CP in treatment with opioids and a diagnosis of BTP. Patients were classified as first episode of BTP or patient in follow-up. The patients completed the SF-12 quality of life questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory, Lattinen Index, and Edmonton Symptoms Assessment Scale. The patient's satisfaction with the treatment was evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 199 patients were included with 67.7% women (132). There were 28.5% (55) attending the first visit for BTP and 71.5% (138) were on follow-up visits. On the physical component of the SF-12, 95% had a score below the mean for the Spanish general population and 44% had a score below the mean on the mental component. Worse scores were observed for women in the bodily pain dimension (p = .032) and in the overall physical component (p = .045). There were 62.9% (112) patients satisfied with the treatment for BTP. In the multivariate analysis, SF-12 physical component scores (p = .017) and patient's satisfaction with BTP treatment was better in follow-up visits (p = .031). CONCLUSIONS: All clinical parameters compared between first visit for the treatment of BTP and follow-up visits were improved, so the quality of care was also considered improved. Elderly women and non-oncologic patients were observed to be the population with worse symptom control.