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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Sep 24;18(1):132.
doi: 10.1186/s12871-018-0583-8.

Comparison of analgesic effect of oxycodone and morphine on patients with moderate and advanced cancer pain: a meta-analysis

Kai-Kai Guo  1 , Cheng-Qi Deng  2 , Gui-Jun Lu  3 , Guo-Li Zhao  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Comparison of analgesic effect of oxycodone and morphine on patients with moderate and advanced cancer pain: a meta-analysis

Kai-Kai Guo et al. BMC Anesthesiol. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Morphine and oxycodone are considered as wide-spreadly used opioids for moderate/severe cancer pain. However, debate exists about the evidence regarding their relative tolerability and underlying results.

Methods: A systematic search of online electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library updated on October 2017 were conducted. The meta-analysis was performed including the studies that were designed as randomized controlled trials.

Results: In total, seven randomized clinical trials met our inclusion criteria. No statistical differences in analgesic effect between oxycodone and morphine were observed. Both the pooled analysis of API (MD =0.01, 95% CI -0.22 - 0.23; p = 0.96) and WPI (MD = - 0.05, 95% CI -0.21 - 0.30; p = 0.72) demonstrated clinical non-inferiority of the efficacy of morphine compared with oxycodone, respectively. Additionally, no significant difference in PRR response was observed in either oxycodone or morphine that were used in patients (MD =0.99, 95% CI -0.88 - 1.11; p = 0.87). With the pooled result of AEs indicating the comparable safety profiles between the 2 treatment groups, the meta-analysis on the nausea (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.90-1.59; p = 0.22), vomiting (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 0.75-2.38; p = 0.33), somnolence (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.95-1.93; p = 0.10), diarrhea (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.60-1,67; p = 0.98), and constipation (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.77-1.41; p = 0.79) was conducted, respectively.

Conclusions: In the current study, no remarkable difference was identified either in analgesic efficacy or in tolerability of oxycodone and morphine as the first-line therapy for patients with moderate to severe cancer pain. Thus, no sufficient clinical evidence on the superior effects of oxycodone to morphine was provided in this experimental hypothesis.

Keywords: Cancer pain; Meta-analysis; Morphine; Oxycodone.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow chart of selection process to identify studies eligible for pooling
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pooled analysis of PRR comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Pooled analysis of API comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Pooled analysis of WPI comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Pooled analysis of nausea comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Pooled analysis of vomiting comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Pooled analysis of somnolence comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Pooled analysis of diarrhea comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Pooled analysis of constipation comparing oxycodone with morphine on patients with cancer pain
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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