Nearly one in three older cancer patients experiencing severe cancer pain do not use opioids, according to a study reported in Reuters.
Researchers examined more than 24,000 cancer patients over age 65, 20 percent of whom had reported severe pain. A third of the severe pain group did not fill a prescription for opioids, including morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl, within the month before their pain screening or the week after.
Older patients and women, in particular, were found to be least likely to use opioids. The study noted that patients older than age 85 were 30 percent less likely to use painkillers than patients between the ages of 64 and 74. Women in the study were 14 percent less likely to have a prescription filled than the men.
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Researchers examined more than 24,000 cancer patients over age 65, 20 percent of whom had reported severe pain. A third of the severe pain group did not fill a prescription for opioids, including morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl, within the month before their pain screening or the week after.
Older patients and women, in particular, were found to be least likely to use opioids. The study noted that patients older than age 85 were 30 percent less likely to use painkillers than patients between the ages of 64 and 74. Women in the study were 14 percent less likely to have a prescription filled than the men.
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