Opioid effect on respiration in cancer patients- prospective observational study

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09320
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55050:Anesthesiology-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: TAGUCHI Natsuko 千葉大学, 大学院医学研究院, 准教授 (80282474)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オピオイド / 呼吸抑制 / 呼吸困難感

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Opioid treatment for dyspnea is still not widely used due to fear of its respiratory depressant effects. Our hypothesis is that measurement of non-respiratory sensation period (NRSP) may serve as an index for nocturnal opioid induced respiratory depression. To carry-out the experiment, we also elucidated the usefulness of activity index(ACI) on bed, and respiratory effects of drugs (opioid and benzodiazepines). ACI was useful in detecting Performance Status change objectively, and respiratory depressant effect of drugs were similar to physiological changes observed due to natural sleep.
The trial to clarify the usefulness of NRSP in detecting nocturnal respiratory depression due to opioids, is still underway, delay due to bed reduction from COVID-19 pandemic.

Free Research Field

緩和医療学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

全疾患の終末期に最も多い症状は呼吸困難感である。がん性呼吸困難ではその症状緩和にオピオイドを使用することは一般的となってきたが、他の疾患では臨床経験の低さ及びオピオイドそのものの呼吸抑制作用を懸念し十分な症状緩和ができていないのが現状である。患者QOLの維持のためには、本症状の安全かつ有用な緩和は、急務とされる。日中の簡易な検査で呼吸異常が予測可能となれば薬剤の投与量の適切な設定、監視の必要性の有無など臨床現場において有用な手段となる。