Effectiveness of long-term opioid therapy among chronic non-cancer pain patients attending multidisciplinary pain treatment clinics: A Quebec Pain Registry study. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saïdi, Hichem; Pagé, M. Gabrielle; Boulanger, Aline; Ware, Mark A.; Choinière, Manon
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of pain =. Volume 2:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: opioids -- chronic pain -- Quebec Pain Registry -- multidisciplinary pain treatment facility -- treatment effectiveness; Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Pain; Pain Management; Periodicals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2018.1451252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2474-0527

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate in a real-life context the effectiveness of long-term opioid therapy for reducing pain intensity and interference and improving health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic noncancer pain. Methods: Participants were 893 patients (age = 52.4 ± 14.1, female = 62.4%) enrolled in the Quebec Pain Registry (2008–2011) who completed questionnaires before their first visit at one of three multidisciplinary pain management clinics and 6 and 12 months thereafter. Based on their opioid use profile (OUP), patients were categorized as nonusers, non-lasting users, or lasting users. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: More than 60% of patients newly initiated on opioid therapy stopped their medication mainly because of adverse effects and/or lack of pain relief. OUP significantly predicted pain intensity and interference and physical QOL (pQOL; P values < 0.001). Lasting users of opioids reported higher levels of pain intensity and interference and poorer pQOL than nonusers and/or non-lasting users over the 12-month follow-up ( P values < 0.001). However, all effect sizes were small, thus questioning the clinical significance of these group differences. Among lasting users, more than 20% of patients experienced a meaningful amelioration in pain intensity and interference as well as mental QOL (mQOL), whereas only 8% exhibited improved pQOL. Discussion: A significant subgroup of patients may benefit from long-term opioid therapy in terms of pain severity and mQOL but the majority do not. The challenge facing clinicians is how to identify who the responders will be.