Assessing age and gender in studies of breakthrough pain medications

作者：Mercadante Sebastiano^*; Giarratano Antonino

来源：Current Medical Research and Opinion, 2014, 30(7): 1353-1356.

DOI：10.1185/03007995.2014.901942

• Age
• Breakthrough pain
• Cancer pain
• Fentanyl
• Gender

Objective:
The present review was performed to identify possible differences observed between adults and elderly patients and between males and females in randomized clinical trials of breakthrough pain (BTP).
Methods:
A systematic search of the existing literature from 1998 to September 2013 was performed. Randomized clinical trials reporting data on older patients were selected.
Results:
Sixteen comparative studies were selected. The age range of inclusion criteria patients was mainly between 18-80 or >= 18 years. In some cases this data was unreported. The mean age of patients was 48-64 years, but information regarding the number of elderly patients was present in three studies only. Gender distribution was more or less 50%:50%. No subgroup analysis of efficacy or adverse effects of BTP medications for age and gender was reported.
Conclusion:
There is a need for more information regarding the use of opioids for BTP according to age and gender.

• 出版日期2014-7