Open AccessThe patient burden of opioid‐induced constipation: New insights from a large, multinational survey in five European countries
Author(s) -
Andresen Viola,
Banerji Vivek,
Hall Genevieve,
Lass Amir,
Emmanuel Anton V
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ueg journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2050-6414
pISSN - 2050-6406
DOI - 10.1177/2050640618786145
Subject(s) - medicine , constipation , opioid , biopsychosocial model , quality of life (healthcare) , dermorphin , family medicine , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , nursing , opioid peptide , receptor
Background Despite its high prevalence, opioid‐induced constipation (OIC) remains under‐recognised and undertreated, and its true impact on wellbeing and quality of life (QoL) may be underestimated. Methods A quantitative, questionnaire‐based international survey was conducted. Results Weak‐opioid users appeared as bothered by constipation as strong‐opioid users (38% vs 40%, respectively; p = 0.40), despite it causing less‐severe physical symptoms and impact on QoL. Strong‐opioid users meeting Rome IV OIC criteria appeared to experience greater symptomatic and biopsychosocial burden from constipation than those not satisfying these criteria. Almost one‐fifth of respondents were dissatisfied with their current constipation treatment and around one‐third found balancing the need for adequate pain relief with constipation side effects challenging. Consequently, more than half failed to adhere to their prescribed treatment regimens, or resorted to suboptimal strategies, e.g. 40% reduced their opioid intake, to relieve constipation. Almost 60% of healthcare professionals did not adequately counsel patients about constipation as a common side effect of opioid use. Conclusions Findings suggest that both weak‐ and strong‐opioid users suffer comparable bother and decreased QoL, Rome IV criteria can identify patients with more‐severe OIC, but may underdiagnose patients showing fewer symptoms, and increased education is needed to manage patients’ expectations and enable improved OIC self‐management.