title: Assessment of Transdermal Buprenorphine Patches for the Treatment of Chronic Pain in a UK Observational Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opioids provide effective analgesia for moderate-to-severe, chronic pain. Transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) is available in the UK as weekly, lower-dose (5-20 μg/h) patches and twice-weekly, higher dose (35-70 μg/h) patches. This prospective, observational, multicenter study of patients with various chronic pain conditions assessed the safety, perceptions, and discontinuation of treatment with TDB in a real-world, non-interventional setting (ClinicalTrials.gov study ID: NCT01225861).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged ≥18 years who were already receiving or initiating treatment with TDB were recruited in the UK during routine clinical visits and were followed for 6 visits or 9 months (whichever came first). Self-reported treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, and safety data were collected at each study visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 465 patients, 272 were already receiving 7-day TDB at the study start (TDB experienced), 146 were TDB naïve, and 47 were prescribed twice-weekly TDB. Most patients were female (72.9 %) and overweight/obese (body mass index ≥25: 75.3 %). The median age was 67 years, and the mean duration of pain was 11.1 years. Arthritis/other musculoskeletal disorders (39.6 %) were the most common causes of pain. Mild adverse events were commonly reported. Skin irritations, which were most frequent in 7-day TDB-experienced patients (45.6 %), rarely resulted in treatment discontinuation (8.8 %). Nearly all patients used TDB in accordance with treatment recommendations. Most patients reported that TDB was 'effective'/'very effective' at relieving pain and were 'satisfied'/'very satisfied' with TDB therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In everyday clinical practice, TDB was well tolerated and patients were satisfied with their therapy. Self-reported adherence to TDB was very high, and adverse events rarely resulted in treatment discontinuation. Opportunities were identified to limit common adverse events associated with TDB.
authors.affiliation: Gartnavel General Hospital, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serpell
authors.affiliation: Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: East Norwich Medical Partnership, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherzinger
authors.affiliation: IMS Health, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sònia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojas-Farreras
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Buchheim Institute of Pharmacology, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU Giessen), Giessen, Germany.|Mundipharma Research GmbH & Co. KG, Limburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oksche
authors.affiliation: Mundipharma Research Ltd, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0GW, UK. maggie.wilson@mundipharma-rd.eu.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine