Opioid-induced Constipation Among Patients With Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Published by Dove Medical Press
(PRWEB) June 04, 2014 -- ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research has published the original research “Opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic non-cancer pain in the USA, Canada, Germany, and the UK: descriptive analysis of baseline patient-reported outcomes and retrospective chart review.”
As corresponding author Dr Coyne says, “This study is squarely focused on the burden of opioid induced constipation (OIC) and the struggles that patients with OIC face. Patients with clinically-confirmed chronic, non-cancer pain and OIC were recruited from multiple countries to better characterize this patient population. By asking questions directly to the patients themselves and to their physicians in conjunction with a review of their medical records, we have provided a complete picture of the symptoms patients with OIC experience, how they attempt—often unsuccessfully—to manage these symptoms, and the ways in which OIC affects their daily lives.”
Dr Coyne continues, “We believe this comprehensive approach is a good step towards raising awareness around the ongoing unmet needs of patients who are not only affected by a chronic pain condition but who also experience the added side effect of constipation.”
As Professor Giorgio Colombo, Editor-in-Chief, explains, “This study suggests that patients treated with opioids for chronic, non-cancer pain commonly endure constipation symptoms that limit their activities of daily living, work productivity, overall HRQL, and, in some cases, impair their ability to manage their pain effectively, while adhering to approaches to treat OIC that provide little relief. The mean EQ-5D Index found in this study indicates a lower level of HRQL functioning than those found in samples of patients with chronic pain alone or other chronic medical conditions.”
ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal focusing on Health Technology Assessment, Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research in the areas of diagnosis, medical devices, and clinical, surgical and pharmacological intervention. The economic impact of health policy and health systems organization also constitute important areas of coverage.
Dove Medical Press Ltd is a privately held company specializing in the publication of Open Access peer-reviewed journals across the broad spectrum of science, technology and especially medicine.
Angela Jones, Dove Medical Press, +649 443 3060 Ext: 207, [email protected]
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