Age influence on opioid consumption in terminally ill digestive cancer patients

Abstract

The aim of this work was to estimate the influence of the age and gender on the opioids usage in terminally ill digestive cancer patients. A retrospective files analysis of the 344 patients who had died in two palliative units, divided into three groups (< 60, 60–70, > 70 years old) was performed. Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) on admission, within the last 3 days, last 5 days and in the last day of life were compared. The number of patients receiving coanalgesics and the number of coanalgesics used per patient were also analyzed. The amount of opioids remained stable through the last 5 days. The mean daily MEDD values in every time intervals were significantly higher in the youngest group than in older ones. The number of coanalgesics used was the highest in the youngest group. Smaller number of patients received coanalgesics in the oldest group. Women < 60 years old required a significantly higher MEDD than men in each time interval, except of the admission. Study confirms the lower amount of opioids used in the elderly digestive terminal cancer patients and also within younger males.