968
Views
188
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Journal as a University

The Epidemiology of Cancer Pain

, Ph.D. , M.D., , M.D., , LL.M., , M.D. & , F.A.B.P.M. , M.D.
Pages 182-190 | Published online: 11 Jun 2009
 

Abstract

We identified 28 epidemiological surveys by applying a sensitive search in Medline and CancerLit databases, supplemented by hand searches. Only two surveys enrolled more than 10,000 patients with cancer. The remaining were hospital or clinic-based surveys of at most a few hundred patients. Fourteen surveys were conducted in the United States. The majority of the remaining studies were conducted in Europe (Finland, France, Germany, UK/Ireland). No single survey identified a prevalence of any type of pain below 14%. The prevalence of pain reported in these surveys varies with the specific type of pain (e.g., breakthrough pain) and/or population studied. Based on these surveys an aggregate statement could not be deduced regarding the correlation between the occurrence of pain and patient factors, disease characteristics, the setting in which care is provided (e.g., primary care or specialized oncology or pain treatment clinics), or specific treatments directed towards the underlying disease and its associated pain. However, these surveys suggest that a significant number of patients with cancer worldwide will, during the course of their disease, experience pain that requires medical and/or other treatment.

Notes

1These authors define “WHO level 2” drugs as: codeine phosphate or codeine sulfate, oxycodone hydrochloride, hydrocodone bitartrate, propoxyphene hydrochloride or propoxyphene napsylate, meperidine hydrochloride, pentazocine hydrochloride or pentazocine lactate, buprenorphine hydrochloride, nalbuphine hydrochloride, butorphanol tartrate and any combination of these compounds with acetaminophen or an NSAID. They defined “WHO level 3” drugs as: morphine sulfate, hydromorphone hydrochloride, oxymorphone hydrochloride, methadone hydrochloride, levorphanol tartrate and fentanyl citrate.

2Neurologic problems listed by the authors of this article were: pain, change in mental status, epidural cord compression, brain metastases, carcinomatous meningitis, seizures, plexopathy, and primary brain tumor.

3The authors do not define type, but “frequency,” “type of onset,” “duration,” “prevalence of specific precipitants,” and “pathophysiology or etiology” were the characteristics assessed for breakthrough pains.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 1,193.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.