INTRODUCTIONThe use of opioids in chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is controversial, as it presents both benefits and risks. There is currently no available data on the incidence, prescription pattern, functional outcomes and adverse effects of opioids in patients with CNCP in Singapore. This study aimed to address the aforementioned deficit. METHODSAll records of patients who were prescribed strong opioids (for > 3 months per year) for the management of CNCP over a two-year period were retrospectively analysed. Factors including type of opioid, indications for opioid prescription, uncontrolled side effects, functional status, coexisting psychological issues and suspicion of aberrant drug-seeking behaviour were studied. RESUlTSOut of the 1,389 new patients who visited the centre, 42 (3.0%) with CNCP received strong opioids for more than three months a year. The most commonly prescribed opioid was methadone (42.9%). The principal diagnosis for opioid prescription was spinal pain (38.1%). Ten patients had severe side effects. 15 patients saw improvement in activities of daily living scores. Although ten patients returned to work, one stopped following the commencement of opioids. Aberrancy was seen in 5 (11.9%) patients, while 19 (45.2%) had psychological issues and 10 (23.8%) required psychiatric co-management.CONClUSION Opioids are not a panacea for chronic pain. Therefore, functional outcomes should be considered more important end points than mere reductions in pain scores. A multidisciplinary team approach is essential for the effective management of patients with CNCP who are on opioids.

Background Exercise capacity, as measured by metabolic equivalents of task [METs], varies with gender and is an independent predictor of mortality. We sought to investigate gender differences in the protocol selected, the estimated exercise capacity, and the prognostic value of METs. Purpose Investigate the gender differences in the protocol chosen (adjusting for age and comorbidities), the METs achieved (also adjusting for the protocol selected), and the predictive value of exercise capacity adjusted to METs achieved. Methods In a 25-year stress testing registry spanning from 1991 to 2015, we identified 120,705 patients who underwent exercise stress testing. Protocols were split into Bruce vs. non-Bruce. METs were estimated based on established gender-specific formulas (the St James Take Heart Project formula for women, and the Veterans Affairs cohort formula for men).The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results The mean age was 53.3±12.5 years, and 59% were male. Table 1 presents the baseline characteristics and exercise parameters. A total of 8426 death occurred over 8.7 years of mean follow-up duration. Females were more commonly referred for non-Bruce protocols [adjusted OR 2.6; 95% CI (2.5–2.7)] even after adjusting for age and comorbidities. Within the same protocol chosen, females achieved lower estimated METs [Beta −1.4; 95% CI (−1.43 to −1.37)]. Exercise capacity was inversely related to mortality in both genders and across protocols (figure 1), however, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, protocol chosen, and the number of METs achieved, the HR for death was significantly lower for women [adjusted HR=0.44; 95% CI (0.41–0.46)]. Conclusion After adjusting for age and comorbidities, women tend to be more commonly referred for non-Bruce protocols, achieve less estimated METs (after adjusting for the protocol chosen), and have half the mortality for the same METs achieved. Death vs. Exercise capacity by gender Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None