Opioid needs of terminal care patients: variations with age and primary site.

The records of 1383, terminal cancer patients have been reviewed to determine whether opioid requirements vary in a consistent pattern with age and with site of primary cancer. Opioid requirements are shown to decrease with age in a regular pattern and from early adult life. Opioid requirements also differ significantly with site of primary cancer and there appears to be a discernible pattern of opioid need for different cancers. Patients with sexually related cancer have the highest opioid requirements, irrespective of sex. When the sexually determined cancers are excluded, the analgesic needs of men and women are not significantly different (P = 0.191).