Can We Make More Accurate Prognoses During Last Days of Life?

Life expectancy prediction is important for end-of-life planning. Established methods (Palliative Performance Scale [PPS], Palliative Prognostic Index [PPI]) have been validated for intermediate- to long-term prognoses, but last-weeks-of-life prognosis has not been well studied. Patients admitted to a palliative care facility often have a life expectancy of less than three weeks.

Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling of O-Desmethyltramadol in Young and Elderly Healthy Volunteers.

Background: Age-related changes in the concentration-effect relationship of (+)-O-desmethyl-tramadol [(+)-ODM], tramadol's active metabolite, are not documented in the elderly.

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize, in elderly and young subjects, the (+)-ODM pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship to examine the effect of age after single-dose administration of tramadol 200 mg extended-release tablets.

Methods: A population analysis of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over study including 13 elderly (aged ≥75 years) subjects with mild renal insufficiency and 16 young (aged 18-40 years) subjects was conducted.

Evaluation of an Experimental Pain Model by Noncompartmental Analysis of Results from a Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.

Background: Understanding analgesic pharmacodynamics (PD) in the elderly is key to optimising pain management. Electrically stimulated pain models (ESPM) permit assessment of pain responses in humans. C and A-delta sensory fibres convey pain and respond to low frequency electrical stimulus (5 and 250 Hz, respectively).

Pharmacokinetics of Tramadol and O-Desmethyltramadol Enantiomers Following Administration of Extended-Release Tablets to Elderly and Young Subjects.

Background: Tramadol is frequently used in geriatric patients; however, pharmacokinetic (PK) publications on tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol (ODM) in elderly patients are rare.

Objective: Our objective was to characterize the PK of tramadol and ODM, including absorption processes and covariates for tramadol, in elderly and young subjects after single-dose administration of 200-mg extended-release tablets.

Methods: We conducted a PK study in 15 elderly (aged ≥75 years) subjects with mild renal insufficiency and 20 young (18-40 years) subjects; blood and urine samples were collected for 48 h post-dose.