title: [Pain therapy in the elderly:7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch in clinical practice. Results of a non-interventional study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pain in the elderly is common. Especially in the elderly inadequate treatment of pain can cause significant functional impairmentand deterioration of qualityof life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Theaim of this post-marketing surveillance study was to collect data from clinical practice on the analgesic efficacy and safety of the 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch in patients with chronic non-malignant pain pre-treated with opioids. A total of 2713 elderly multimorbid patients were switched to 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch from previous opioid treatment mainly due to inadequate analgesia. 83% of patients received a 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch dosage > or = 10 microg/h. During the 8-weekobservation period, data on pain intensity, quality of sleep/life (NRS-11 point scales) and safety wererecorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean pain intensity decreased by 4 points with 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch (p < or = 0.001). Quality of sleep and life as well as social activities and self-reliance improved significantly. Compliance and tolerability were assessed as very good/good in > 90% of patients. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 3% of patients and corresponded to 90.1% to the already-known spectrum of ADRs of 7-daytransdermal buprenorphinepatch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm that elderly patients with opioid pre-treatment benefit from a switch to 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch with regard to reduction of pain and improved quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Arzt für Innere und Allgemeinmedizin, Münster. kontakt@praxiswb.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wahle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krings
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwenke
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D057915:Drug Substitution; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine