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Table 3 Comparative efficacy of buprenorphine

From: A meta-analysis of efficacy and tolerability of buprenorphine for the relief of cancer pain

Description

Number of studies (study included)

Participants

RR (95% CI)

Remark

With outcomes/total (buprenorphine group)

With outcomes/total (comparator)

TD route

     

Global impression of change

2 (Poulain et al. 2008; Pace et al. 2007)

96/120

72/121

1.35 (1.14-2.59); I2:42%

NNT: 4.9 (3.1-10.9)

Responders 35.5 μg/h

2 (Bohme and Likar 2003; Sittl et al. 2003)

27/76

17/75

1.58 (0.94-2.66); I2:39%

 

Responders 52.5 μg/h

2 (Bohme and Likar 2003; Sittl et al. 2003)

37/75

17/75

1.83 (1.12-2.99); I2: 64%

NNT: 5.3 (3.06-24.09)

Responders 70 μg/h

2 (Bohme and Likar 2003; Sittl et al. 2003)

34/87

17/75

1.87 (1.17-3); I2: 0%

NNT: 5.03 (2.98-18.6)

Rescue SL buprenorphine

2 (Sorge and Sittl 2004: Sittl et al. 2003)

79/247

23/84

1.25 (0.71-2.18); I2: 40%

 

Requirement of prophylactic antiemetics

2 (Sorge and Sittl 2004: Sittl et al. 2003)

24/129

53/110

0.63 (0.43-0.9); I2: 4%

NNT: 3.8 (2.4-8.4)

Requirement of laxatives

2 (Sorge and Sittl 2004: Wirz et al. 2009)

45/151

70/160

1.03 (0.8-1.32); I2: 69%

 

Nausea

2 (Pace et al. 2007; Wirz et al. 2009)

11/87

28/84

0.38 (0.2-0.71); I2: 0%

NNT: 9.3 (5.6-28.5)

Constipation

2 (Aurilio et al. 2009; Wirz et al. 2009)

32/77

33/71

0.89 (0.55-1.17); I2: 0%

TD fentanyl

Constipation

2 (Pace et al. 2007; Wirz et al. 2009)

30/87

36/84

0.89 (0.55-1.17); I2: 81%

Morphine

CNS- related AEs

2 ((Pace et al. 2007; Sittl et al. 2003)

12/116

9/73

0.74 (0.33-1.66); I2: 0%

 

Skin related AEs

2 (Sorge and Sittl 2004: Sittl et al. 2003)

38/209

9/85

1.42 (0.73-2.76); I2: 16%

 

SAEs Deaths

2 (Bohme and Likar 2003; Sittl et al. 2003)

3/155

1/75

1.48 (0.23-9.66); I2: 0%

 

IM route

     

Any pain improvement (with 0.3 mg dose)

2 (Dini et al. 1986; Taguchi 1982)

22/42

6/34

3.03 (1.4-6.54); I2: 0%

 

Any pain improvement (with 0.2 mg dose)

2 (Dini et al. 1986; Taguchi 1982)

23/35

6/34

3.7 (1.72-7.93); I2: 0%

 
  1. AE’s: adverse events, SAE’s: Serious adverse events; CNS: central nervous system; IM : intramuscular injection; NNT: number-needed-to treat; RR: relative risk; SL: sublingual administration; TD: transdermal administration.