Opioid-induced constipation in mixed chronic pain patients: Prevalence and predictors analysis

Boaz Gedaliahu Samolsky Dekel, MD, PhD; Maria Cristina Sorella, MD; Alessio Vasarri, MD; Alberto Gori, MD; Rita Maria Melotti, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2019.0527

Authors

Boaz Gedaliahu Samolsky Dekel, MD, PhD
Maria Cristina Sorella, MD
Alessio Vasarri, MD
Alberto Gori, MD
Rita Maria Melotti, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2019.0527

Keywords:

opioid-induced constipation, prevalence, Bowel Function Index, opioid, morphine-equivalent daily-dose, laxatives, macrogol, peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor, antagonists

Abstract

Objectives: Assessment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) prevalence and relationship with demographic, clinical, and drug predictors in our daily practice.

Design: Observational and retrospective study.

Setting: Chronic pain (CP) center of Bologna’s Teaching Hospital, Italy.

Subjects: Mixed consecutive CP opioid-user outpatients (n = 128).

Main outcome measure(s): OIC was assessed with the Bowel Function Index (BFI) in three consecutive visits. Absolute difference and Student’s t-test were used to compare BFI scores. Predictors (opioid compound and type, morphine-equivalent daily-dose [MEDD], and laxatives) were retrieved from the patients’ charts. BFI and predictors relationships were checked by multinomial logistic regression (MLR); independent predictors of BFI scores were assessed with χ 2 analysis.

Results: Of the 384 evaluations, 85 percent were on strong opioids with a MEDD range of 11-50 mg per day in the majority (60 percent) and 64 percent showed moderate constipation; 42 percent did not use laxatives while 24 percent used macrogol with significant decrease in the BFI. MLR showed that oxycodone was associated with a risk for moderate constipation. Lactulose and glycerin suppositories were associated with severe constipation. Non-opioid users and cancer patients were associated with normal bowel function and severe constipation, respectively.

Conclusions: OIC was found in almost all evaluations of weak or strong opioid users (97 percent); moderate to severe OIC was found in 72 percent of the evaluations. Cancer patients were associated with severe constipation. Macrogol was superior to other laxatives. In our experience, macrogol relieved constipation in those on the combination of oxycodone and naloxone and in those on fentanyl patches. Lactulose and glycerol suppositories were associated with severe constipation.

Author Biographies

Boaz Gedaliahu Samolsky Dekel, MD, PhD

Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Emergency-Urgency, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola- Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, Post Graduate School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Maria Cristina Sorella, MD

Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Emergency-Urgency, Azienda Ospedaliera- Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, Post Graduate School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Alessio Vasarri, MD

Department of Emergency-Urgency, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy

Alberto Gori, MD

Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, Post Graduate School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Rita Maria Melotti, MD

Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Emergency-Urgency, Azienda Ospedaliera- Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, Post Graduate School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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