Does transdermal fentanyl work in patients with low BMI? Patient-reported outcomes of pain and percent pain relief in cancer patients on transdermal fentanyl Journal Article


Authors: Moryl, N.; Bokhari, A.; Griffo, Y.; Hadler, R.; Koranteng, L.; Filkins, A.; Zheng, T.; Horn, S. D.; Inturrisi, C. E.
Article Title: Does transdermal fentanyl work in patients with low BMI? Patient-reported outcomes of pain and percent pain relief in cancer patients on transdermal fentanyl
Abstract: Background: Low body mass index (BMI) is suspected of being associated with low transdermal fentanyl (TDF) blood levels and worse pain relief. Clinical pain data to support this claim are lacking. Methods: Using a Chronic Pain Registry, we identified 901 cancer patients who received TDF at outpatient pain service clinics of our cancer center from 7/1/2011 to 12/1/2016. Of these, 240 patients had a BMI measure, pain intensity, and pain relief scores documented within 30 days of a TDF order. We examined associations between BMI, TDF dose, Worst and Least pain scores, and pain relief scores using standard statistical tests. Results: In cancer patients receiving TDF, low BMI (<18.5) was significantly associated with greater pain relief irrespective of TDF dose and borderline significantly associated with greater percent pain relief after controlling for age, cancer diagnoses, and pain etiology (P =.073), suggesting that low BMI may independently predict better pain relief in cancer patients. As there were no significant associations between BMI and TDF dose, we find no basis for BMI-dependent dose modification or avoiding TDF in cachectic and low BMI patients. Conclusions: When predicting percent pain relief, we conclude that there is no basis for avoiding TDF or modifying its dose in cancer patients with low BMI and cachexia. © 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords: adult; aged; major clinical study; dose response; cancer patient; cancer diagnosis; disease association; pain; patient assessment; drug effect; oncology; cancer therapy; age; cancer center; body mass; clinical evaluation; medical oncology; outpatient; chronic pain; cachexia; analgesia; pain assessment; fentanyl; nutrition; disease registry; patient-reported outcome; pain intensity; human; male; female; priority journal; article; malignant neoplasm; cancer management; clinical observations
Journal Title: Cancer Medicine
Volume: 8
Issue: 18
ISSN: 2045-7634
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2019-12-01
Start Page: 7516
End Page: 7522
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2479
PUBMED: 31568684
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6912029
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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  1. Natalie Moryl
    63 Moryl
  2. Yvona Griffo
    8 Griffo
  3. Rachel Anne Hadler
    1 Hadler