Objective: Objective: To assess the effect and adverse effects of transdermal fentanyl for elderly patients with cancer pain in China. Methods: A total of 1664 elderly patients (aged 65-90 with mean age of 72.6) with cancer pain enrolled in the multicenter study from 136 institutes in China. Of them, 408 (28.8%) patients were 75 years old or older. All patients received transdermal fentanyl for the management of cancer pain. The patients were asked to record the attacks of pain, quality of life, and any side effects of the treatment. Results: Baseline mean of pain intensity was 7.34. On day 1, 3, 6, 9 15, and 30, the pain mean scores were decreased to 3.82, 2.80, 2.43, 2.11, 1.83, 1.64 (P=0.000). The effective rate was 97.18%. The mean doses of fentanyl was 31.34 g/h (25-150 g/h) initially, and 40.59 g/h and 47.50 g/h (25-200 g/h) at day 15 and day 30. At treatment day 15, the dose of fentanyl was ranger from 25 to 50 g/h in 91.8% of patients, 75 to 100 g/h in 7.5% patients, and 125 to 200 g/h only in 0.8% patients. The fine quality of life was in 25.4% patients before treatment, and was 71.15% and 73.04% at day 15 and day 30 respectively (P=0.0000). The common side effects were constipation (10.70%), nausea (11.96%), dizzy (6.85%), vomiting (3.85%), sedation (2.40%), Respiratory depression (0.12%). 86.2% patients preferred continue treated by transdermal fentanyl. Conclusions: Transdermal fentanyl for the elderly with cancer pain is effective, safe, convenient, and can improve the quality of life. Transdermal fentanyl can be recommended as a first-line drug for the treatment of elderly patients with moderate to severe cancer pain, and the initial doses is recommended as 25 g/h.
