Epidemiology of regular prescribed opioid use: results from a national, population-based survey

Preoperative Opioid Use Increases Postoperative Opioid Demand, but Not Length of Stay After Spine Trauma Surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative opioid use has been well-studied in elective spinal surgery and correlated with numerous postoperative complications including increases in immediate postoperative opioid demand (POD), continued opioid use postoperatively, prolonged length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and disability. There is a paucity of data available on the use of preoperative opioids in surgery for spine trauma, possibly because there are minimal options for opioid reduction prior to emergent spinal surgery. Nevertheless, patients with traumatic spinal injuries are at a high risk for adverse postoperative outcomes. This study investigated the effects of preoperative opioid use on POD and LOS in spine trauma patients.

METHODS

130 patients were grouped into two groups for primary comparison: Group 1 (preoperative opioid use, N = 16) and Group 2 (no opioid use, N = 114). Two subgroups of Group 2 were used for secondary analysis against Group 1: Group 3 (no substance abuse, N = 95) and Group 4 (other substance abuse, N = 19). Multivariable analysis was used to determine if there were significant differences in POD and LOS.

RESULTS

Primary analysis demonstrated that preoperative opioid users required an estimated 97.5 mg/day more opioid medications compared to non-opioid users (P < 0.001). Neither primary nor secondary analysis showed a difference in LOS in any of the comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative opioid users had increased POD compared to non-opioid users and patients abusing other substances, but there was no difference in LOS. We theorize the lack of difference in LOS may be due to the enhanced perioperative recovery protocol used, which has been demonstrated to reduce LOS.

Opioid Use Prior to Adult Spine Deformity Correction Surgery is Associated With Worse Pre- and Postoperative Back Pain and Prolonged Opioid Demands

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective multicenter database post-hoc analysis.

OBJECTIVES

Opioids are frequently prescribed for painful spinal conditions to provide pain relief and to allow for functional improvement, both before and after spine surgery. Amidst a current opioid epidemic, it is important for providers to understand the impact of opioid use and its relationship with patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-/postoperative opioid consumption surrounding ASD and assess patient-reported pain outcomes in older patients undergoing surgery for spinal deformity.

METHODS

Patients ≥60 years of age from 12 international centers undergoing spinal fusion of at least 5 levels and a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Patient-reported outcome scores were collected using the Numeric Rating Scale for back and leg pain (NRS-B; NRS-L) at baseline and at 2 years following surgery. Opioid use, defined based on a specific question on case report forms and question 11 from the SRS-22r questionnaire, was assessed at baseline and at 2-year follow-up.

RESULT

Of the 219 patients who met inclusion criteria, 179 (81.7%) had 2-year data on opioid use. The percentages of patients reporting opioid use at baseline (n = 75, 34.2%) and 2 years after surgery (n = 55, 30.7%) were similar (P = .23). However, at last follow-up 39% of baseline opioid users (Opi) were no longer taking opioids, while 14% of initial non-users (No-Opi) reported opioid use. Regional pre- and postoperative opioid use was 5.8% and 7.7% in the Asian population, 58.3% and 53.1% in the European, and 50.5% and 40.2% in North American patients, respectively. Baseline opioid users reported more preoperative back pain than the No-Opi group (7.0 vs 5.7, P = .001), while NRS-Leg pain scores were comparable (4.8 vs 4, P = .159). Similarly, at last follow-up, patients in the Opi group had greater NRS-B scores than Non-Opi patients (3.2 vs 2.3, P = .012), but no differences in NRS-Leg pain scores (2.2 vs 2.4, P = .632) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, almost one-third of surgical ASD patients were consuming opioids both pre- and postoperatively world-wide. There were marked international variations, with patients from Asia having a much lower usage rate, suggesting a cultural influence. Despite both opioid users and nonusers benefitting from surgery, preoperative opioid use was strongly associated with significantly more back pain at baseline that persisted at 2-year follow up, as well as persistent postoperative opioid needs.

The Effect of Preoperative Marijuana Use on Surgical Outcomes, Patient-Reported Outcomes, and Opioid Consumption Following Lumbar Fusion

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES

To (1) investigate the effect of marijuana use on surgical outcomes following lumbar fusion, (2) determine how marijuana use affects patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), and (3) determine if marijuana use impacts the quantity of opioids prescribed.

METHODS

Patients > 18 years of age who underwent primary one- or two-level lumbar fusion with preoperative marijuana use at our institution were identified. A 3:1 propensity match incorporating patient demographics and procedure type was conducted to compare preoperative marijuana users to non-marijuana users. Patient demographics, surgical characteristics, surgical outcomes (90-day all-cause and 90-day surgical readmissions, reoperations, and revision surgeries), pre- and postoperative narcotic usage, and PROMs were compared between groups. Multivariate regression models were created to determine the effect of marijuana on surgical reoperations patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) 1-year postoperatively.

RESULTS

Of the 259 included patients, 65 used marijuana preoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that marijuana use (OR = 2.28, P = .041) significantly increased the likelihood of having a spine reoperation. No other surgical outcome was found to be significantly different between groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that marijuana use was not significantly associated with changes in 1-year postoperative PROMs (all, P > .05). The quantity of pre- and postoperative opioids prescriptions was not significantly different between groups (all, P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative marijuana use increased the likelihood of a spine reoperation for any indication following lumbar fusion, but it was not associated with 90-day all cause readmission, surgical readmission, the magnitude of improvement in PROMs, or differences in opioid consumption.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Trends in the prescription of opioids and gabapentinoids in patients with failed back surgery syndrome in Korea: a population-based study

Background

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a chronic condition that is characterized by persistent back pain following one or more spinal surgeries. Pharmacological interventions, such as the use of opioids and gabapentinoids, are frequently used in the treatment of FBSS. However, prolonged and excessive use of these medications can lead to dependence and adverse effects. This study investigates trends in opioid and gabapentinoid prescriptions among patients with FBSS in Korea from 2016 to 2020.

Methods

Data from the Health Insurance and Review Agency were analyzed, and claims listing FBSS were selected for the study. Prescription patterns of opioids and gabapentinoids were classified based on the number of days prescribed per year.

Results

Of the 390,095 patients diagnosed with FBSS, 41.6% of the patients were prescribed gabapentinoids, and 42.0% of them were prescribed opioids, while 10.6% of the patients were classified as long-term gabapentinoid users, 11.4% as long-term opioid users, and 7.4% of the patients were found to have long-term prescriptions for both drugs. The proportion of patients who received both gabapentinoid and opioid prescriptions increased annually. The doses of opioids prescribed have also increased along with the increase in the number of patients receiving opioid prescriptions.

Conclusions

The prescription rates of opioids and gabapentinoids among patients with FBSS in Korea continue to increase steadily, posing potential risks of addiction and adverse effects. Further research is needed to better understand the actual status of addiction in patients with FBSS.

Clinical Observation, Management and Function Of low back pain Relief Therapies (COMFORT): A cluster randomised controlled trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Low back pain (LBP) is commonly treated with opioid analgesics despite evidence that these medicines provide minimal or no benefit for LBP and have an established profile of harms. International guidelines discourage or urge caution with the use of opioids for back pain; however, doctors and patients lack practical strategies to help them implement the guidelines. This trial will evaluate a multifaceted intervention to support general practitioners (GPs) and their patients with LBP implement the recommendations in the latest opioid prescribing guidelines.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a cluster randomised controlled trial that will evaluate the effect of educational outreach visits to GPs promoting opioid stewardship alongside non-pharmacological interventions including heat wrap and patient education about the possible harms and benefits of opioids, on GP prescribing of opioids medicines dispensed. At least 40 general practices will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or control (no outreach visits; GP provides usual care). A total of 410 patient-participants (205 in each arm) who have been prescribed an opioid for LBP will be enrolled via participating general practices. Follow-up of patient-participants will occur over a 1-year period. The primary outcome will be the cumulative dose of opioid dispensed that was prescribed by study GPs over 1 year from the enrolment visit (in morphine milligram equivalent dose). Secondary outcomes include prescription of opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by study GPs or any GP, health services utilisation and patient-reported outcomes such as pain, quality of life and adverse events. Analysis will be by intention to treat, with a health economics analysis also planned.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial received ethics approval from The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2022/511). The results will be disseminated via publications in journals, media and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12622001505796.

Recommendations for inversion table therapy

In the USA, low back pain related illness accounts for approximately 149 million workdays lost each year. Initial management of back pain typically involves allied healthcare professionals who implement various treatments, such as chiropractic manipulation, physiotherapy, and acupuncture which have varying outcomes and levels of supporting evidence. Another passive treatment for back pain is inversion table therapy (ITT). It is a form of spinal traction which is thought to have a role in relieving low back pain due to the gravity-facilitated traction of the spine which distracts the lumbar vertebrae. However, ITT is not without risk. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Medical Device Reporting Events Database, ITT has resulted in serious injuries including spinal cord injury, fractures, lacerations, and death. The FDA has regulated ITT for only manufacturers that indicated medical use; however, most manufacturers have not made such medical claims and were exempt from FDA regulation. This article discusses the risks of ITT, the current regulatory process for ITT, and the need for a better understanding of the role of ITT in the treatment of spinal pain while optimizing consumer safety.Implications for rehabilitationInversion table therapy (ITT) is a form of spinal traction which is thought to have a role in relieving low back pain due to the gravity-facilitated traction of the spine which distracts the lumbar vertebrae.According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statistics, injuries due to non-powered traction from various medical devices have been rising since 2011.The FDA has regulated ITT for only manufacturers that indicated medical use; however, most manufacturers have not made such medical claims and were exempt from FDA regulation.This article discusses the risks of ITT, the current regulatory process for ITT, and the need for a better understanding of the role of ITT in the treatment of spinal pain while optimizing consumer safety.

Association between pain burden and presence of any limitation among older adults (≥50 years of age) with pain who used opioids in the United States: Cross-sectional study using 2020 medical expenditure panel survey

This study aimed to assess the association between pain burden and presence of any limitation among older adults (≥50 years of age) with pain who used opioids in the United States. This cross-sectional study used 2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data and included all adults aged 50 or older, who were alive for the 2020 calendar year, used an opioid at least once in the calendar year, and reported having pain in the past 4 weeks. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were developed to assess the association between any limitation (AL) (yes or no), pain burden (extremely, quite a bit, moderately, or little bit) and the control variables among a nationally representative sample of United States adults. A total of 844 of the 27,805 participants included in the dataset were eligible for the study. Of these, 71.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 67.2, 75.1%) reported the presence of AL. The adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that having extreme, quite a bit, or moderate pain (vs little pain) was associated with 10.30 (95% CI = 3.87, 27.40), 5.07 (95% CI = 2.77, 9.30), and 2.49 (95% CI = 1.40, 4.45), respectively, times greater odds of having AL. Furthermore, being unemployed (vs employed; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.26, 95% CI = 2.94, 9.09%), unmarried (vs married; aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.12, 3.33%), having poor overall health (vs good overall health; aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.08, 4.17), and residing in the Midwest (vs West; aOR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.10, 3.80) were associated with greater odds of having AL. Extreme, quite a bit, and moderate pain burden were significantly associated with greater odds of reporting AL compared to little pain burden. Developing effective pain management strategies that address not only pain relief but also functional improvement among this population is of importance. Future research could then be conducted to determine the most effective pain management strategies that will provide pain relief and improve their functional abilities.

Ropivacaine-Epinephrine-Clonidine-Ketorolac Cocktail as a Local Anesthetic for Lumbar Decompression Surgery: A Single Institutional Experience

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to discuss our initial experience with a multimodal opioid-sparing cocktail containing ropivacaine, epinephrine, clonidine, and ketorolac (RECK) in the postoperative management of lumbar decompression surgeries.

METHODS

Patients were either administered no local anesthetic at the incision site or were administered a weight-based amount of RECK into the paraspinal musculature and subdermal space surrounding the operative site once the fascia was closed. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients 18 years of age or older undergoing lumbar laminectomy and lumbar diskectomy surgeries between December 2019 and April 2021. Outcomes including total opioid use, measured as morphine milligram equivalent, length of stay, and postoperative visual analog scores for pain, were collected. Relationships between variables were analyzed with Student's t-test, chi-square tests, and Fisher exact tests.

RESULTS

A total of 121 patients undergoing 52 lumbar laminectomy and 69 lumbar diskectomy surgeries were identified. For lumbar laminectomy, patients who were administered RECK had decreased opioid use in the postoperative period (11.47 ± 12.32 vs. 78.51 ± 106.10 morphine milligram equivalents, P = 0.019). For patients undergoing lumbar diskectomies, RECK administration led to a shorter length of stay (0.17 ± 0.51 vs. 0.79 ± 1.45 days, P = 0.019) and a lower 2-hour postoperative pain score (3.69 ± 2.56 vs. 5.41 ± 2.28, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The RECK cocktail has potential to be an effective therapeutic option for the postoperative management of lumbar decompression surgeries.

To be aware, or to accept, that is the question: Differential roles of awareness of automaticity and pain acceptance in opioid misuse

BACKGROUND

Individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) are commonly prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for analgesia, placing this population at increased risk for opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. Acceptance of aversive experiences (e.g., chronic pain) and awareness of automatic thoughts and behaviors (i.e., automaticity) are two facets of dispositional mindfulness that may serve as protective mechanisms against opioid misuse risk. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the differential contributions of these constructs to opioid misuse risk among adults with CLBP receiving LTOT.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a sample of 770 adults with opioid-treated CLBP. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to determine whether chronic pain acceptance and awareness of automatic thoughts and behaviors explained a statistically significant portion of variance in opioid misuse risk after accounting for the effects of other relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression results revealed that chronic pain acceptance and awareness of automatic thoughts and behaviors contributed a significant portion in the variance of opioid misuse risk. Awareness of automatic thoughts and behaviors was negatively associated with opioid misuse risk, such that individuals with lower levels of awareness of automaticity were at higher risk of opioid misuse. By contrast, pain acceptance was not associated with opioid misuse.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that awareness of automaticity may buffer against opioid misuse risk. Interventions designed to strengthen awareness of automaticity (e.g., mindfulness-based interventions) might be especially efficacious among this population.

Chronic pain acceptance: Relations to opioid misuse and pain management motives among individuals with chronic low back pain

The opioid epidemic is a significant public health concern, and opioid consumption rates and opioid-related deaths are on the rise. Chronic pain acceptance, or willingness to experience pain and pain-related distress, is one pain-related psychological mechanism that may reduce maladaptive attempts to avoid or control pain using opioids among individuals with chronic lower back pain (CLBP). However, little work has examined chronic pain acceptance as it relates to opioid use and motives for use among adults with CLBP. The current investigation sought to explore the effects of chronic pain acceptance on opioid misuse and motives for opioid use (i.e., pain management and coping motives) among adults with CLBP. Participants were 291 adults (69.1 % female, Mage = 45.77 years, SD = 11.22) self-reporting current mild to severe CLBP and current opioid use who were recruited via an online survey. Results indicated that higher acceptance of pain was related to lower levels of opioid misuse and lower motivation to use opioids to cope with pain. Contrary to hypotheses, chronic pain acceptance did not predict motivation to use opioids to cope with emotional distress (i.e., coping motives). The current findings provide support for chronic pain acceptance as a potential protective mechanism in terms of opioid misuse and motivation to use opioids to manage pain.

Effect of Medication Optimization vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among US Veterans With Chronic Low Back Pain Receiving Long-term Opioid Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Medication management and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are commonly used treatments for chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, little evidence is available comparing the effectiveness of these approaches.

OBJECTIVE

To compare collaborative care medication optimization vs CBT on pain intensity, interference, and other pain-related outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Care Management for the Effective Use of Opioids (CAMEO) trial was a 12-month, comparative effectiveness randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment. Recruitment of veterans with CLBP prescribed long-term opioids occurred at 7 Veterans Affairs primary care clinics from September 1, 2011, to December 31, 2014, and follow-up was completed December 31, 2015. Analyses were based on intention to treat in all randomized participants and were performed from March 22, 2015, to November 1, 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomized to receive either collaborative care with nurse care manager-delivered medication optimization (MED group) (n = 131) or psychologist-delivered CBT (CBT group) (n = 130) for 6 months, with check-in visits at 9 months and final outcome assessment at 12 months.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was change in Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) total score, a composite of the pain intensity and interference subscales at 6 (treatment completion) and 12 (follow-up completion) months. Scores on the BPI range from 0 to 10, with higher scores representing greater pain impact and a 30% improvement considered a clinically meaningful treatment response. Secondary outcomes included pain-related disability, pain catastrophizing, self-reported substance misuse, health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety.

RESULTS

A total of 261 patients (241 [92.3%] men; mean [SD] age, 57.9 [9.5] years) were randomized and included in the analysis. Baseline mean (SD) BPI scores in the MED and CBT groups were 6.45 (1.79) and 6.49 (1.67), respectively. Improvements in BPI scores were significantly greater in the MED group at 12 months (between-group difference, -0.54 [95% CI, -1.18 to -0.31]; P = .04) but not at 6 months (between-group difference, -0.46 [95% CI, -0.94 to 0.11]; P = .07). Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this randomized clinical trial among US veterans with CLBP who were prescribed long-term opioid therapy, collaborative care medication optimization was modestly more effective than CBT in reducing pain impact during the 12-month study. However, this difference may not be clinically meaningful or generalize to nonveteran populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01236521.

A retrospective analysis of pain changes and opioid use patterns temporally associated with a course of chiropractic care at a publicly funded inner-city facility

BACKGROUND

Non-pharmacologic treatment, including chiropractic care, is now recommended instead of opioid prescriptions as the initial management of chronic spine pain by clinical practice guidelines. Chiropractic care, commonly including spinal manipulation, has been temporally associated with reduced opioid prescription in veterans with spine pain.

PURPOSE

To determine if chiropractic management including spinal manipulation was associated with decreased pain or opioid usage in financially disadvantaged individuals utilizing opioid medications and diagnosed with musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of quality assurance data from a publicly funded healthcare facility was conducted. Measures included numeric pain scores of spine and extremity regions across three time points, opioid utilization, demographics, and care modalities.

RESULTS

Pain and opioid use significantly decreased concomitant with a course of chiropractic care.

CONCLUSIONS

A publicly funded course of chiropractic care temporally coincided with statistically and clinically significant decreases in pain and opioid usage in a financially disadvantaged inner-city population.

Does preoperative opioid therapy in patients with a single lumbar disc herniation positively influence the postoperative outcome detected by quantitative sensory testing?

The importance of the type of pain medication in spinal disease is an ongoing matter of debate. Recent guidelines recommend acetaminophen and NSAIDs as first-line medication for lumbar disc herniation. However, opioid pain medication is commonly used in patients with chronic pain, and therefore also in patients with sciatica. The aim of this study is to evaluate if opioids have an impact on the outcome in patients suffering from lumbar disc herniation. To assess this objectively quantitative sensory testing (QST) was applied. In total, 52 patients with a single lumbar disc herniation confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated by lumbar sequesterectomy were included in the trial. Patients were analysed according to their preoperative opioid intake: 35 patients who did not receive opioids (group NO) and 17 patients, who received opioids preoperatively (group O). Further evaluation included detailed medical history, physical examination, various questionnaires, and QST. No pre- and postoperative differences were detected in thermal or mechanical thresholds (p > 0.05). Wind-up ratio (WUR) differed significantly between groups 1 week postoperatively (p = 0.025). The NRS for low back pain was rated significantly higher in the non-opioid group (NO) after 1-week follow-up (p = 0.026). Radicular pain tended to be higher in the NO group after 12 months of follow-up (p = 0.023). Opioids seem to be a positive predictor for the postoperative pain outcome in early follow-up in patients undergoing lumbar sequesterectomy. Furthermore, patients presented with less radicular pain 1 year after surgery.

Addressing opioid medication misuse at point of service in community pharmacy: A study protocol for an interdisciplinary behavioral health trial

BACKGROUND

>1 in 3 of the 9 million individuals engaged in opioid medication misuse obtain legitimate opioid prescriptions and fill these in community pharmacies, which are subsequently misused. This study is testing the efficacy of a pharmacist-led intervention-Brief Intervention-Medication Therapy Management (BI-MTM)-compared to standard medication counseling (SMC) to address opioid medication misuse.

METHODS

Design. This study is a single-blinded 2-group parallel randomized trial within 13 community pharmacies that will enroll 350 individuals. Participant Recruitment. Pharmacy staff approach patients and ask about interest in completing a brief confidential screening tool, which includes opioid medication misuse assessment. Interested patients who report misuse are asked to provide informed consent. Enrolled patients are assessed for behavioral and physical health at enrollment, 2-months post-enrollment, and 6-months post-enrollment.

INTERVENTIONS

Following baseline assessment, participants are randomized (1:1 ratio) to: SMC, a medication information/counseling intervention or BI-MTM, an intervention comprised by 4 evidence-based components: medication therapy management, brief intervention, naloxone dispensing, and patient navigation.

ANALYSES

Primary analyses involve estimating 3-level generalized linear mixed models to relate repeated assessments across time of opioid medication misuse (i.e., the Prescription Opioid Misuse Index) to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Study results will provide the first critical step towards integrating a highly accessible, low-cost approach to managing risks related to opioid use. Community pharmacies provide an incredibly important setting in which patients can receive high quality care to support health behavior change. Successfully completing this project sets the stage for a large-scale effectiveness study. (NCT#: NCT05141266).

Association between chiropractic care and use of prescription opioids among older medicare beneficiaries with spinal pain: a retrospective observational study

Background

The burden of spinal pain can be aggravated by the hazards of opioid analgesics, which are still widely prescribed for spinal pain despite evidence-based clinical guidelines that identify non-pharmacological therapies as the preferred first-line approach. Previous studies have found that chiropractic care is associated with decreased use of opioids, but have not focused on older Medicare beneficiaries, a vulnerable population with high rates of co-morbidity and polypharmacy. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the association between chiropractic utilization and use of prescription opioids among older adults with spinal pain.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study in which we examined a nationally representative multi-year sample of Medicare claims data, 2012–2016. The study sample included 55,949 Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with spinal pain, of whom 9,356 were recipients of chiropractic care and 46,593 were non-recipients. We measured the adjusted risk of filling a prescription for an opioid analgesic for up to 365 days following diagnosis of spinal pain. Using Cox proportional hazards modeling and inverse weighted propensity scoring to account for selection bias, we compared recipients of both primary care and chiropractic to recipients of primary care alone regarding the risk of filling a prescription.

Results

The adjusted risk of filling an opioid prescription within 365 days of initial visit was 56% lower among recipients of chiropractic care as compared to non-recipients (hazard ratio 0.44; 95% confidence interval 0.40–0.49).

Conclusions

Among older Medicare beneficiaries with spinal pain, use of chiropractic care is associated with significantly lower risk of filling an opioid prescription.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12998-022-00415-7.

Opioid Consumption in Chronic Pain Patients: Role of Perceived Injustice and Other Psychological and Socioeconomic Factors

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon. Lifestyle, behavioral, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors such as depression and perceived injustice are often associated with the development of chronic pain and vice versa. We sought to examine the interaction of these factors with opioid intake.

METHODS

At our institution, 164 patients with chronic pain undergoing an interdisciplinary assessment within a three-month period participated in the study and completed the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ). Data regarding opioid intake, pain levels, pain diagnosis, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, pain-related disability, habitual well-being, occupational status, and ongoing workers compensation litigation were extracted from the patients' charts.

RESULTS

Approximately one-fourth of the patients used opioids. The IEQ total was significantly higher in patients using Schedule III opioids. Depression, but not the anxiety and stress scores, were significantly higher in patients using opioids. There were no significant differences regarding pain-related disability, habitual well-being, and the coded psychosocial diagnoses. In the patient group without opioids, the percentage of employed persons was significantly higher but there were no significant differences regarding work leave, pension application, or professional education.

CONCLUSIONS

Opioid use appears to be more closely related to psychological factors and single social determinants of pain than to somatic factors.

Efficiency of primary spine care as compared to conventional primary care: a retrospective observational study at an Academic Medical Center

BACKGROUND

Primary Spine Care (PSC) is an innovative model for the primary management of patients with spine-related disorders (SRDs), with a focus on the use of non-pharmacological therapies which now constitute the recommended first-line approach to back pain. PSC clinicians serve as the initial or early point of contact for spine patients and utilize evidence-based spine care pathways to improve outcomes and reduce escalation of care (EoC; e.g., spinal injections, diagnostic imaging, hospitalizations, referrals to a specialist). The present study examined 6-month outcomes to evaluate the efficiency of care for patients who received PSC as compared to conventional primary care. We hypothesized that patients seen by a PSC clinician would have lower rates of EoC compared to patients who received usual care by a primary care (PC) clinician.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study. We evaluated 6-month outcomes for two groups seen and treated for an SRD between February 01, 2017 and January 31, 2020. Patient groups were comprised of N = 1363 PSC patients (Group A) and N = 1329 PC patients (Group B). We conducted Pearson chi-square and logistic regression (adjusting for patient characteristics that were unbalanced between the two groups) to determine associations between the two groups and 6-month outcomes.

RESULTS

Within six months of an initial visit for an SRD, a statistically significantly smaller proportion of PSC patients utilized healthcare resources for spine care as compared to the PC patients. When adjusting for patient characteristics, those who received care from the PSC clinician were less likely within 6 months of an initial visit to be hospitalized (OR = .47, 95% CI .23-.97), fill a prescription for an opioid analgesic (OR = .43; 95% CI .29-.65), receive a spinal injection (OR = .56, 95% CI .33-.95), or have a visit with a specialist (OR = .48, 95% CI .35-.67) as compared to those who received usual primary care.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received PSC in an academic primary care clinic experienced significantly less escalation of their spine care within 6 months of their initial visit. The PSC model may offer a more efficient approach to the primary care of spine problems for patients with SRDs, as compared to usual primary care.

Characterizations of Opioid Prescribing in Community Health Centers in 2018

Objective:

To identify the patient- and clinic-level correlates of any prescription opioid use, chronic use, and high-dose opioid use in a multi-state network of Community Health Centers (CHCs).

Methods:

We used electronic health record data from 337 primary care clinics serving 610 983 patients across 15 states in 2018. The primary outcomes were prescription of any opioid, chronic opioid, and high-dose opioid.

Results:

Overall, 6.5% of patients were prescribed an opioid; of these, 31% were chronic users and 5% were high-dose users. Males had 5% lower odds (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.95; 95% Confidence Interval = 0.93-0.97) of being prescribed an opioid but 16% higher odds (OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.10-1.21) of being chronic users and 48% (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.36-1.64) higher odds of being high-dose users than females. Rural clinics had higher rates of chronic opioid (rate ratio = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.20, 2.88) and high-dose users (rate ratio = 2.95; 95% CI = 1.81-4.81).

Conclusions:

Our study highlights variations in opioid prescribing with regard to patient-level and clinic-level factors. Targeted efforts and resources may be required to support rural CHCs who seek to reduce high-risk opioid prescribing.

Long-Term Medicare Costs Associated With Opioid Analgesic Therapy vs Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Cohort of Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to compare Medicare healthcare expenditures for patients who received long-term treatment of chronic low back pain (cLBP) with either opioid analgesic therapy (OAT) or spinal manipulative therapy (SMT).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study using a cohort design for analysis of Medicare claims data. The study population included Medicare beneficiaries enrolled under Medicare Parts A, B, and D from 2012 through 2016. We assembled cohorts of patients who received long-term management of cLBP with OAT or SMT (such as delivered by chiropractic or osteopathic practitioners) and evaluated the comparative effect of OAT vs SMT upon expenditures, using multivariable regression to control for beneficiary characteristics and measures of health status, and propensity score weighting and binning to account for selection bias.

RESULTS

The study sample totaled 28,160 participants, of whom 77% initiated long-term care of cLBP with OAT, and 23% initiated care with SMT. For care of low back pain specifically, average long-term costs for patients who initiated care with OAT were 58% lower than those who initiated care with SMT. However, overall long-term healthcare expenditures under Medicare were 1.87 times higher for patients who initiated care via OAT compared with those initiated care with SMT (95% CI 1.65-2.11; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults aged 65 to 84 who initiated long-term treatment for cLBP via OAT incurred lower long-term costs for low back pain but higher long-term total healthcare costs under Medicare compared with patients who initiated long-term treatment with SMT.

More Than 1 in 3 Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Continue to Use Opioids Long-term After Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

A common expectation for patients after elective spine surgery is that the procedure will result in pain reduction and minimize the need for pain medication. Most studies report changes in pain and function after spine surgery, but few report the extent of opioid use after surgery. This systematic review aims to identify the rates of opioid use after lumbar spine fusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Ovid Medline were searched to identify studies published between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2020 that assessed the effectiveness of lumbar fusion for the management of low back pain.

RESULTS

Of 6872 abstracts initially identified, 329 studies met the final inclusion criteria, and only 32 (9.7%) reported any postoperative opioid use. Long-term opioid use after surgery persists for more than 1 in 3 patients with usage ranging from 6 to 85.9% and a pooled mean of 35.0% based on data from 21 studies (6.4% of all lumbar fusion studies).

DISCUSSION

Overall, opioid use is not reported in the majority of lumbar fusion trials. Patients may expect a reduced need for opioid-based pain management after surgery, but the limited data available suggests long-term use is common. Lack of consistent reporting of these outcomes limits definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of spinal fusion for reducing long-term opioid. Patient decisions about undergoing surgery may be altered if they had realistic expectations about rates of postsurgical opioid use. Spine surgery trials should track opioid utilization out to a minimum of 6 months after surgery as a core outcome.

The association between opioids, environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic indicators and COVID-19 mortality rates in the United States: an ecological study at the county level

Background

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world presents an unprecedented challenge to public health inequities. People who use opioids may be a vulnerable group disproportionately impacted by the current pandemic, however, the limited prior research in this area makes it unclear whether COVID-19 and opioid use outcomes may be related, and whether other environmental and socioeconomic factors might play a role in explaining COVID-19 mortality. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between opioid-related mortality and COVID-19 mortality across U.S. counties.

Methods

Data from 3142 counties across the U.S. were used to model the cumulative count of deaths due to COVID-19 up to June 2, 2020. A multivariable negative-binomial regression model was employed to evaluate the adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate ratios (aMRR).

Results

After controlling for covariates, counties with higher rates of opioid-related mortality per 100,000 persons were found to be significantly associated with higher rates of COVID-19 mortality (aMRR: 1.0134; 95% CI [1.0054, 1.0214]; P = 0.001). Counties with higher average daily Particulate Matter (PM2.5) exposure also saw significantly higher rates of COVID-19 mortality. Analyses revealed rural counties, counties with higher percentages of non-Hispanic whites, and counties with increased average maximum temperatures are significantly associated with lower mortality rates from COVID-19.

Conclusions

This study indicates need for public health efforts in hard hit COVID-19 regions to also focus prevention efforts on overdose risk among people who use opioids. Future studies using individual-level data are needed to allow for detailed inferences.

Cannabinoid-based therapy as a future for joint degeneration. Focus on the role of CB2 receptor in the arthritis progression and pain: an updated review

Over the last several decades, the percentage of patients suffering from different forms of arthritis has increased due to the ageing population and the increasing risk of civilization diseases, e.g. obesity, which contributes to arthritis development. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are estimated to affect 50-60% of people over 65 years old and cause serious health and economic problems. Currently, therapeutic strategies are limited and focus mainly on pain attenuation and maintaining joint functionality. First-line therapies are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; in more advanced stages, stronger analgesics, such as opioids, are required, and in the most severe cases, joint arthroplasty is the only option to ensure joint mobility. Cannabinoids, both endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoid receptor (CB) agonists, are novel therapeutic options for the treatment of arthritis-associated pain. CB₁ receptors are mainly located in the nervous system; thus, CB₁ agonists induce many side effects, which limit their therapeutic efficacy. On the other hand, CB₂ receptors are mainly located in the periphery on immune cells, and CB₂ modulators exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. In the current review, novel research on the cannabinoid-mediated analgesic effect on arthritis is presented, with particular emphasis on the role of the CB₂ receptor in arthritis-related pain and the suppression of inflammation.

Design and methods of the Care Management for the Effective Use of Opioids (CAMEO) trial

Low back pain is the most common pain condition seen in primary care, with the most common treatment being analgesic medications, including opioids. A dramatic increase in opioid prescriptions for low back pain over the past few decades has led to increased non-medical use and opioid overdose deaths. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain is an evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment for pain with demonstrated efficacy when delivered using collaborative care models. No previous studies have tested CBT compared to analgesic optimization that includes opioid management in primary care. This paper describes the study design and methods of the CAre Management for the Effective use of Opioids (CAMEO) trial, a 2-arm, randomized comparative effectiveness trial in seven primary care clinics. CAMEO enrolled 261 primary care veterans with chronic (6 months or longer) low back pain of at least moderate severity who were receiving long-term opioid therapy and randomized them to either nurse care management focused on analgesic treatment and optimization (MED) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). All subjects undergo comprehensive outcome assessments at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months by interviewers blinded to treatment assignment. The primary outcome is pain severity and interference, measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) total score. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, fatigue, sleep, functional improvement, pain disability, pain beliefs, alcohol and opioid problems, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Characterizing Patients after Opioid Taper in a VA Medical Center

To identify potential areas for intervention and gain insight on current practice in patients who are tapered to zero morphine equivalent daily doses (MEDD) through the Pharmacy Pain E-Consult at a Veterans Healthcare System. This was done by describing the types of follow-up care and resources utilized by patients. This project is a retrospective chart review of Veterans with non-cancer pain on chronic-opioid therapy consulted to the pharmacy e-consult service and tapered to 0 MEDD. Descriptive statistics are collected one year pre-taper and one year post-taper. One year post-taper, approximately one-third of the patients were re-started on opioid therapy. However, average MEDD overall was significantly decreased one year post-taper compared to pre-taper. Average pain scores were not significantly different pre-taper compared to post-taper. Non-opioid medications generally increased post-taper. Follow-up with mental health and pain management clinical pharmacy specialists decreased post-taper. Tapering to zero MEDD did not lead to a significant increase in pain one-year post-taper; however, approximately 33% of patients were re-started on opioids within one year post-taper. Average MEDD scores decreased post-taper as expected but with effects on mental health being largely unknown, we believe that further study in this area will help us better support patients.

Experiences and Attitudes About Chiropractic Care and Prescription Drug Therapy Among Patients With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine experiences and attitudes toward care offered by chiropractors and prescription drug therapy offered by medical physicians for patients who have back pain.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey measured patients with back pain (n = 150) seeking care within an academic primary care setting. A survey assessed patient experiences, beliefs, and attitudes regarding chiropractic care and prescription drug therapy. Two samples of patients in the New Hampshire region included 75 patients treated by a doctor of chiropractic (DC) and 75 treated by a medical primary care physician (PCP). The 30-item survey was sent to existing and new patients between February 2019 and January 2020. Between-group comparisons were examined to test rates of reporting and to determine the mean difference in the total number of office visits between the 2 samples.

RESULTS

Patients treated by both DCs and PCPs reported high overall satisfaction with chiropractic care received for low back pain with no significant differences between groups. The majority in both groups reported that seeing a DC for back pain made sense to them (95% of patients treated by a DC and 75% of patients treated by a PCP) whereas the minority reported that taking prescription drugs for back pain made sense (25% of patients treated by a DC and 41% of patients treated by a PCP). There was no statistical difference between groups when patients were asked if seeing a chiropractor changed their beliefs or behaviors about taking pain medication. Significant differences were found between groups for agreement that chiropractic care would be a suitable treatment for back pain (79% of patients treated by a DC and 45% of patients treated by a PCP). There were 7% of patients treated by PCP and 23% of the patients treated by DC who agreed that a DC would be the first health care provider they would like to see for their general health needs.

CONCLUSIONS

In this sample of patients, patient satisfaction regarding chiropractic care received for back pain was high. There were differences between patient groups about preferences for treatment for back pain. Our results indicate that patients reported that seeing a DC for back pain did not change their beliefs or behaviors regarding prescription drug therapy provided by their medical PCP.

Brain Structure and Function of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients on Long-Term Opioid Analgesic Treatment: A Preliminary Study

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is often treated with opioid analgesics (OA), a class of medications associated with a significant risk of misuse. However, little is known about how treatment with OA affect the brain in chronic pain patients. Gaining this knowledge is a necessary first step towards understanding OA associated analgesia and elucidating long-term risk of OA misuse. Here we study CLBP patients chronically medicated with opioids without any evidence of misuse and compare them to CLBP patients not on opioids and to healthy controls using structural and functional brain imaging. CLBP patients medicated with OA showed loss of volume in the nucleus accumbens and thalamus, and an overall significant decrease in signal to noise ratio in their sub-cortical areas. Power spectral density analysis (PSD) of frequency content in the accumbens’ resting state activity revealed that both medicated and unmedicated patients showed loss of PSD within the slow-5 frequency band (0.01–0.027 Hz) while only CLBP patients on OA showed additional density loss within the slow-4 frequency band (0.027–0.073 Hz). We conclude that chronic treatment with OA is associated with altered brain structure and function within sensory limbic areas.

Allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cells treatment for chronic low back pain associated with degenerative disc disease: a prospective randomized, placebo-controlled 36-month study of safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND CONTEXT PURPOSE

Evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single intradiscal injection of STRO-3+ adult allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) in subjects with chronic low back pain (CLBP) associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD) through 36-month follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A multicenter, randomized, controlled study conducted at 13 clinical sites (12 in the United States and 1 in Australia).

SUBJECT SAMPLE

A total of 100 subjects with chronic low back pain associated with moderate DDD (modified Pfirrmann score of 3-6) at one level from L1 to S1 for at least 6 months and failing 3 months of conservative treatment, including physical therapy were randomized in a 3:3:2:2 ratio to receive 6 million MPCs with HA, 18 million MPCs with HA, HA vehicle control, or saline control (placebo) treatment.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Subjects were clinically and radiographically evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postinjection. Subject-reported outcomes including adverse events, LBP on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SF-36 and Work Productivity and Activity Index were collected.

METHODS

Clinical and radiographic measures were collected at each visit. All randomized subjects were included in the safety assessments and analyzed based on the treatment received. Safety assessments included assessments of AEs, physical and radiographic examinations and laboratory testing. Efficacy assessments evaluated changes in VAS, ODI, and modified Pfirrmann (MP) scores between all active and control groups, respectively. Assessments included least squares mean (Mean), LS mean change from baseline (Mean Change) and responder analyses in order to assess the clinical significance of observed changes from baseline. The population for efficacy assessments was adjusted for the confounding effects of post-treatment interventions (PTIs). This study was conducted under an FDA Investigational New Drug application sponsored and funded by Mesoblast.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the control and MPC groups for improvement in VAS and ODI. The PTI-corrected VAS and ODI Means and Mean Change analyses; the proportion of subjects with VAS ≥30% and ≥50% improvement from baseline; absolute VAS score ≤20; and ODI reduction ≥10 and ≥15 points from baseline showed MPC therapy superior to controls at various time points through 36 months. Additionally, the proportion of subjects achieving the minimally important change and clinically significant change composite endpoints for the MPC groups was also superior compared with controls at various time points from baseline to 36 months. There were no significant differences in change in MP score from baseline across the groups. There were also no statistically significant differences in change in modified MP score at the level above or below the level treated between study arms. Both the procedure and treatment were well tolerated and there were no clinical symptoms of immune reaction to allogeneic MPCs. There was a low rate of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and Serious Adverse Events, and the rates of these events in the MPC groups were not significantly different from the control groups. One TEAE of severe back pain was possibly related to study agent and one TEAE of implantation site infection was considered to be related to the study procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Results provide evidence that intradiscal injection of MPCs could be a safe, effective, durable, and minimally invasive therapy for subjects who have CLBP associated with moderate DDD.

Cost comparison of two approaches to chiropractic care for patients with acute and sub-acute low Back pain care episodes: a cohort study

Background

Low back pain (LBP) imposes a costly burden upon patients, healthcare insurers, and society overall. Spinal manipulation as practiced by chiropractors has been found be cost-effective for treatment of LBP, but there is wide variation among chiropractors in their approach to clinical care, and the most cost-effective approach to chiropractic care is uncertain. To date, little has been published regarding the cost effectiveness of different approaches to chiropractic care. Thus, the current study presents a cost comparison between chiropractic approaches for patients with acute or subacute care episodes for low back pain.

Methods

We employed a retrospective cohort design to examine costs of chiropractic care among patients diagnosed with acute or subacute low back pain. The study time period ranged between 07/01/2016 and 12/22/2017. We compared cost outcomes for patients of two cohorts of chiropractors within health care system: Cohort 1) a general network of providers, and Cohort 2) a network providing conservative evidence-based care for rapid resolution of pain. We used generalized linear regression modeling to estimate the comparative influence of demographic and clinical factors on expenditures.

Results

A total of 25,621 unique patients were included in the analyses. The average cost per patient for Cohort 2 (mean allowed amount $252) was lower compared to Cohort 1 (mean allowed amount $326; 0.77, 95% CI 0.75–0.79, p < .001). Patient and clinician related factors such as health plan, provider region, and sex also significantly influenced costs.

Conclusions

This study comprehensively analyzed cost data associated with the chiropractic care of adults with acute or sub-acute low back pain cared by two cohorts of chiropractic physicians. In general, providers in Cohort 2 were found to be significantly associated with lower costs for patient care as compared to Cohort 1. Utilization of a clinical model characterized by a patient-centered clinic approach and standardized, best-practice clinical protocols may offer lower cost when compared to non-standardized clinical approaches to chiropractic care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12998-020-00356-z.

Relationship Between Preoperative Opioid Use and Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Stand-Alone Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion

BACKGROUND

Opioid use in the management of pain secondary to spinal disorders has grown significantly in the United States. However, preoperative opioid use may complicate recovery in patients undergoing surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE

To test our hypothesis that prolonged preoperative opioid use may lead to poorer patient outcomes following minimally invasive stand-alone lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

METHODS

A consecutive series of patients from a single institution undergoing LLIF between December 2009 and January 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of prescribed preoperative opioid use for at least 3 mo. Outcomes included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS), and Short Form 36 Physical and Mental Summary Scores (SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS).

RESULTS

Of 107 patients, 57 (53.1%) were prescribed preoperative opioids. There was no significant difference in preoperative ODI, VAS score, SF-36 PCS, or SF-36 MCS between opioid use groups. Mean postoperative ODI was greater in patients with preoperative opioid use at 41.7 ± 16.9 vs 22.2 ± 16.0 (P = .002). Mean postoperative VAS score was greater in patients prescribed preoperative opioids, while magnitude of decrease in VAS score was greater in opioid-naïve patients (P = .001). Postoperative SF-36 PCS was 33.1 ± 10.6 in the opioid use group compared to 43.7 ± 13.1 in the nonuse group (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Following LLIF, patients prescribed preoperative opioids had increased postoperative lumbar pain, disability, and subjective pain.

First Report of Pharmacogenomic Profiling in an Outpatient Spine Setting: Preliminary Results from a Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

Pharmacogenomics may help personalize medicine and improve therapeutic selection. This is the first study investigating how pharmacogenomic testing may inform analgesic selection in patients with spine disease. We profile pharmacogenetic differences in pain medication-metabolizing enzymes across patients presenting at an outpatient spine clinic and provide preliminary evidence that genetic polymorphisms may help explain interpatient differences in preoperative pain refractory to conservative management.

METHODS

Adults presenting to our outpatient spine clinic with chief symptoms of neck and/or back pain were prospectively enrolled over 9 months. Patients completed the Wong-Baker FACES and numeric pain rating scales for their chief pain symptom and provided detailed medication histories and cheek swab samples for genomic analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty adults were included (mean age, 60.6 ± 15.3 years). The chief concern was neck pain in 23%, back pain in 67%, and combined neck/back pain in 10%. At enrollment, patient analgesic regimens comprised 3 ± 1 unique medications, including 1 ± 1 opioids. After genomic analysis, 14/30 patients (47%) were identified as suboptimal metabolizers of ≥1 medications in their analgesic regimen. Of these patients, 93% were suboptimal metabolizers of their prescribed opioid analgesic. Nonetheless, pain scores were similar between optimal and suboptimal metabolizer groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study shows that a large proportion of the spine outpatient population may use pain medications for which they are suboptimal metabolizers. Further studies should assess whether these pharmacogenomic differences indicate differences in odds of receiving therapeutic benefit from surgery or if they can be used to generate more effective postoperative analgesic regimens.

Association Between Opioid Use and Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Randomized Trial Evaluating Basivertebral Nerve Ablation for the Relief of Chronic Low Back Pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a primary indication for opioid therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the hypothesis that CLBP patients reporting reduced opioid use have superior functional outcomes following basivertebral nerve (BVN) radiofrequency ablation.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis from a sham-controlled trial examined short-acting opioid use from baseline through 1 yr. Opioid use was stratified into 3 groups by two blinded external reviewers. Two-sample t-tests were used to compare Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measurements between those patients who increased or decreased their opioid usage compared to baseline.

RESULTS

Actively treated patients with decreased opioid use at 12 mo had a mean ODI improvement of 24.9 ± 16.0 (n = 27) compared to 7.3 ± 9.8 (n = 18) for patients reporting increased opioid use (P < .001). In the sham arm, the improvements in ODI were 17.4 ± 16.1 (n = 19) and 1.2 ± 14.3 (n = 5; P = .053) for the patients reporting decreased vs increased opioid usage, respectively. Actively treated patients reporting decreased opioid use had a mean improvement in VAS of 3.3 ± 2.5 (n = 27) compared to 0.6 ± 1.8 (n = 18) for patients reporting increased opioid use (P < .001). In the sham arm, the improvements in VAS were 2.5 ± 2.6 (n = 19) and 1.4 ± 1.9 (n = 5; P = .374) for patients reporting decreased vs increased opioid use, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Subjects undergoing BVN ablation who decreased opioid use had greater improvement in ODI and VAS scores compared with those reporting increased opioid usage. There is an association between functional benefit from BVN ablation and reduced opioid use.

Occupational injury and psychological distress among U.S. workers: The National Health Interview Survey, 2004-2016

INTRODUCTION

Injuries at work may negatively influence mental health due to lost or reduced working hours and financial burden of treatment. Our objective was to investigate, in U.S. workers (a) the prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) by injury status (occupational, non-occupational, and no injury) and injury characteristics, and (b) the association between injury status and SPD.

METHODS

Self-reported injuries within the previous three months were collected annually for 225,331 U.S. workers in the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2016). Psychological distress during the past 30 days was assessed using the Kessler 6 (K6) questions with Likert-type scale (0-4, total score range: 0-24). SPD was defined as K6 ≥ 13. Prevalence ratios (PR) from fitted logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between injury and SPD after controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

The prevalence of SPD was 4.74%, 3.58%, and 1.56% in workers reporting occupational injury (OI), non-occupational injury (NOI), and no injury, respectively. Workers with head and neck injury had the highest prevalence of SPD (Prevalence: OI = 7.71%, NOI = 6.17%), followed by workers with scrape/bruise/burn/bite (6.32% for those with OI). Workers reporting OI were two times more likely to have SPD compared to those without injury (PR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.62-2.96). However, there was no significant difference in SPD between workers with OI and workers with NOI (PR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.65-1.48).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of SPD varied by injury status with the highest being among workers reporting OI. We found that the workers reporting OI were significantly more likely to have SPD than those without injury, but not more than those with NOI. Practical Applications: Mental health management programs by employers are necessary for workers who are injured in the workplace.

A comprehensive review of partial opioid agonists for the treatment of chronic pain

Chronic pain is a common condition that is being increasingly recognized, diagnosed, and treated in a variety of settings. Opioids can be used to treat chronic pain but at the cost of adverse effects and risk of dependence. Recently, there has been a movement to improve analgesic care in the setting of the opioid epidemic and the overprescribing of opioids, causing over-accessibility, dependence, and large numbers of overdose deaths. Opioid-specific receptors, including the μ, δ, κ, and opioid receptor like-1 (ORL-1) receptors, are each 7-transmembrane spanning proteins, which affect the G-protein and β-arrestin cascades. Each opioid class can act differently on the receptors, resulting in full, partial, or antagonizing effects. This comprehensive review looks at different agents in major classes, nonselective and mixed/partial agonists/antagonists, including the nonselective partial agonists, levorphanol and tramadol. Mixed partial agonists/antagonists include buprenorphine, pentazocine, nalbuphine, and butorphanol. Oliceridine is the only current selective partial agonist that agonizes specific pathways to promote analgesic effects and discourage adverse effects.

Prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain in Saudi Arabia

Objectives:

To estimate the prevalence of chronic pain (CP) and high-impact chronic pain (HICP) in a sample of the general adult population in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional online survey (N=24,265). Forty data collectors from 5 regions of Saudi Arabia approached people to complete the questionnaires through different social media applications, using a validated survey in Arabic language.

Results:

Chronic pain and HICP prevalences in the Saudi adult population were found to be 46.4% (CP) and 4% (HICP), with a higher prevalence among women and elderly. Chronic back pain was the most reported pain location. Half of the respondents reported dissatisfaction with pain services. Greater prevalence of HICP was found among women, elderly, unemployed, and those with low-income status. Patients with HICP were more likely to have more healthcare utilization and have more negative impacts on their physical and psychological wellbeing.

Conclusion:

Chronic pain and HICP are common in Saudi Arabia, especially among females and elderly, suggesting a public health problem. This calls for collaborative efforts at various levels of the social hierarchy to ensure the provision of effective management of CP in Saudi Arabia.

Opioid Prescribing Among Adults With Disabilities in the United States After the 2014 Federal Hydrocodone Rescheduling Regulation

OBJECTIVES

Deaths from prescription opioid overdoses have reached an epidemic level in the United States, particularly among persons with disabilities. The 2014 federal rescheduling regulation is associated with reduced opioid prescribing in the general US population; however, to date, no data have been published on this regulation's effect on persons with disabilities. We examined whether the 2014 hydrocodone rescheduling change was associated with reduced opioid prescribing among adult Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities.

METHODS

We identified 680 876 Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities aged 21-64 in 2013 and 657 687 in 2015 from a 20% national sample. We examined changes in the monthly opioid-prescribing rates from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2015. We also compared opioid-prescribing rates in 2013 with rates in 2015.

RESULTS

In 2014, the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities who received hydrocodone prescriptions decreased by 0.154% per month (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.186 to -0.121, P < .001). The percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities who received hydrocodone prescriptions decreased from 32.2% in 2013 to 27.7% in 2015, whereas rates of any opioid prescribing, prolonged prescribing (≥90-day supply), and high-dose prescribing (≥100 morphine milligram equivalents per day for >30 days) decreased only modestly, from 50.2% to 49.0%, from 27.4% to 26.5%, and from 7.5% to 7.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2014 federal rescheduling of hydrocodone was associated with only minor changes in overall and potentially high-risk opioid-prescribing rates. Neither state variation in long-term prescribing nor beneficiary characteristics explained the changes in persistently high opioid-prescribing rates among adults with disabilities after the 2014 regulation. Future studies should examine patient and provider characteristics underlying the persistent high-risk prescribing patterns in this population.

Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain

Objective

Utilization of nonpharmacological pain management may prevent unnecessary use of opioids. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of chiropractic utilization upon use of prescription opioids among patients with spinal pain.

Design and Setting

We employed a retrospective cohort design for analysis of health claims data from three contiguous states for the years 2012–2017.

Subjects

We included adults aged 18–84 years enrolled in a health plan and with office visits to a primary care physician or chiropractor for spinal pain. We identified two cohorts of subjects: Recipients received both primary care and chiropractic care, and nonrecipients received primary care but not chiropractic care.

Methods

We performed adjusted time-to-event analyses to compare recipients and nonrecipients with regard to the risk of filling an opioid prescription. We stratified the recipient populations as: acute (first chiropractic encounter within 30 days of diagnosis) and nonacute (all other patients).

Results

The total number of subjects was 101,221. Overall, between 1.55 and 2.03 times more nonrecipients filled an opioid prescription, as compared with recipients (in Connecticut: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–2.17, P = 0.010; in New Hampshire: HR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.92–2.14, P &lt; 0.0001). Similar differences were observed for the acute groups.

Conclusions

Patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription. Among those who saw a chiropractor within 30 days of diagnosis, the reduction in risk was greater as compared with those with their first visit after the acute phase.

Improving Cell Therapy Survival and Anabolism in Harsh Musculoskeletal Disease Environments

Cell therapies are an up and coming technology in orthopedic medicine that has the potential to provide regenerative treatments for musculoskeletal disease. Despite numerous cell therapies showing preclinical success for common musculoskeletal indications of disc degeneration and osteoarthritis, there have been mixed results when testing these therapies in humans during clinical trials. A theory behind the mixed success of these cell therapies is that the harsh microenvironments of the disc and knee they are entering inhibit their anabolism and survival. Therefore, there is much ongoing research looking into how to improve the survival and anabolism of cell therapies within these musculoskeletal disease environments. This includes research into improving cell function under specific microenvironmental conditions known to exist in the intervertebral disc (IVD) and knee environment such as hypoxia, low-nutrient conditions, hyperosmolarity, acidity, and inflammation. This research also includes improving differentiation of cells into desired native cell phenotypes to better enhance their survival and anabolism in the knee and IVD. This review highlights the effects of specific musculoskeletal microenvironmental challenges on cell therapies and what research is being done to overcome these challenges. Impact statement While there has been significant clinical interest in using cell therapies for musculoskeletal pathologies in the knee and intervertebral disc, cell therapy clinical trials have had mixed outcomes. The information presented in this review includes the environmental challenges (i.e., acidic pH, inflammation, hyperosmolarity, hypoxia, and low nutrition) that cell therapies experience in these pathological musculoskeletal environments. This review summarizes studies that describe various approaches to improving the therapeutic capability of cell therapies in these harsh environments. The result is an overview of what approaches can be targeted and/or combined to develop a more consistent cell therapy for musculoskeletal pathologies.

Correlates of nonmedical use of prescription opioids among a cohort of adolescents in Ontario, Canada

INTRODUCTION

Mortality and morbidity rates related to prescription opioid analgesics have been rising in North America and may be a gateway to the nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NUPO). The purpose of this study was to explore correlates of NUPO in the adolescent population given the scarce literature in this area.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 10,163 middle- and high-school students (15.1 ± 1.8 years old; 57.0% female; 55.6% White ethnic background) in Ontario were derived from the 2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. Potential correlates of NUPO in the past year included sociodemographic, behavioral, parental, and school characteristics.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of NUPO was 10.7%. In the final multivariable model, NUPO was significantly associated with 8 of the 21 correlates examined. Students who used prescription opioids nonmedically were of black, South Asian, and "other" ethnic backgrounds (OR 2.83, OR 1.77, and OR 1.67, respectively); reported a lower subjective socioeconomic status (OR 0.92), lower parental support (OR 0.90), and lower academic performance (OR 0.86); met physical activity recommendations (OR 1.48); consumed energy drinks (OR 1.42); smoked tobacco cigarettes (OR 2.33); and used cannabis (OR 1.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study show a wide variety of correlates of NUPO among Canadian adolescents, and highlight the need for further research and the value in targeted prevention and multi-level intervention programs for NUPO in this population.

Precision public health: Mapping socioeconomic disparities in opioid dispensations at Swedish pharmacies by Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA)

BACKGROUND

In light of the opioid epidemic in the United States, there is growing concern about the use of opioids in Sweden as it may lead to misuse and overuse and, in turn, severe public health problems. However, little is known about the distribution of opioid use across different demographic and socioeconomic dimensions in the Swedish general population. Therefore, we applied an intersectional Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA), to obtain an improved mapping of the risk heterogeneity of and socioeconomic inequalities in opioid prescription receipt.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using data from 6,846,106 residents in Sweden aged 18 and above, we constructed 72 intersectional strata from combinations of gender, age, income, cohabitation status, and presence or absence of psychological distress. We modelled the absolute risk (AR) of opioid prescription receipt in a series of multilevel logistic regression models distinguishing between additive and interaction effects. By means of the Variance Partitioning Coefficient (VPC) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), we quantified the discriminatory accuracy (DA) of the intersectional strata for discerning those who received opioid prescriptions from those who did not. The AR of opioid prescription receipt ranged from 2.77% (95% CI 2.69-2.86) among low-income men aged 18-34, living alone, without psychological distress, to 28.25% (95% CI 27.95-28.56) among medium-income women aged 65 and older, living alone, with psychological distress. In a model that conflated both additive and interaction effects, the intersectional strata had a fair DA for discerning opioid users from non-users (VPC = 13.2%, AUC = 0.68). However, in the model that decomposed total effects into additive and interaction effects, the VPC was very low (0.42%) indicating the existence of small interaction effects for a number of the intersectional strata.

CONCLUSIONS

The intersectional MAIHDA approach aligns with the aims of precision public health, through improving the evidence base for health policy by increasing understanding of both health inequalities and individual heterogeneity. This approach is particularly relevant for socioeconomically conditioned outcomes such as opioid prescription receipt. We have identified intersections of social position within the Swedish population at greater risk for opioid prescription receipt.

Analgesic Effects Evoked by Real and Imagined Acupuncture: A Neuroimaging Study

Acupuncture can provide therapeutic analgesic benefits but is limited by its cost and scheduling difficulties. Guided imagery is a commonly used method for treating many disorders, such as chronic pain. The present study examined a novel intervention for pain relief that integrates acupuncture with imagery called video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT). A total of 27 healthy subjects were recruited for a crossover-design study that included 5 sessions administered in a randomized order (i.e., baseline and 4 different interventions). We investigated changes in pain threshold and fMRI signals modulated by: 1) VGAIT, watching a video of acupuncture previously administered on the participant's own body at baseline while imagining it being concurrently applied; 2) a VGAIT control condition, watching a video of a cotton swab touching the skin; 3) real acupuncture; and 4) sham acupuncture. Results demonstrated that real acupuncture and VGAIT significantly increased pain threshold compared with respective control groups. Imaging showed that real acupuncture produced greater activation of the insula compared with VGAIT. VGAIT produced greater deactivation at the rostral anterior cingulate cortex. Our findings demonstrate that VGAIT holds potential clinical value for pain management.

Preoperative Opioids and 1-year Patient-reported Outcomes After Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

Determine 1-year patient-reported outcomes associated with preoperative chronic opioid therapy and high-preoperative opioid dosages in patients undergoing elective spine surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Back pain is the most disabling condition worldwide and over half of patients presenting for spine surgery report using opioids. Preoperative dosage has been correlated with poor outcomes, but published studies have not assessed the relationship of both preoperative chronic opioids and opioid dosage with patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS

For patients undergoing elective spine surgery between 2010 and 2017, our prospective institutional spine registry data was linked to opioid prescription data collected from our state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to analyze outcomes associated with preoperative chronic opioid therapy and high-preoperative opioid dosage, while adjusting for confounders through multivariable regression analyses. Outcomes included 1-year meaningful improvements in pain, function, and quality of life. Additional outcomes included 1-year satisfaction, return to work, 90-day complications, and postoperative chronic opioid use.

RESULTS

Of 2128 patients included, preoperative chronic opioid therapy was identified in 21% and was associated with significantly higher odds (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) of not achieving meaningful improvements at 1-year in extremity pain (aOR:1.5 [1.2-2]), axial pain (aOR:1.7 [1.4-2.2]), function (aOR:1.7 [1.4-2.2]), and quality of life (aOR:1.4 [1.2-1.9]); dissatisfaction (aOR:1.7 [1.3-2.2]); 90-day complications (aOR:2.9 [1.7-4.9]); and postoperative chronic opioid use (aOR:15 [11.4-19.7]). High-preoperative opioid dosage was only associated with postoperative chronic opioid use (aOR:4.9 [3-7.9]).

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with chronic opioids prior to spine surgery are significantly less likely to achieve meaningful improvements at 1-year in pain, function, and quality of life; and less likely to be satisfied at 1-year with higher odds of 90-day complications, regardless of dosage. Both preoperative chronic opioid therapy and high-preoperative dosage are independently associated with postoperative chronic opioid use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2.

A 2-Year Cost Analysis of Maximum Nonoperative Treatments in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis That Ultimately Required Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to characterize the utilization and costs of maximal nonoperative therapies (MNTs) within 2 years prior to spinal fusion surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.

METHODS

A large insurance database was queried for patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing index 1-, 2-, or 3-level lumbar decompression and fusion procedures between 2007 and 2016. This database consists of 20.9 million covered lives and includes private/commercially insured and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. The utilization of MNTs within 2 years prior to index surgery was assessed by cost billed to the patient, prescriptions written, and number of units billed.

RESULTS

A total of 27 877 out of 3 423 114 (0.8%) eligible patients underwent posterior lumbar instrumented fusion. Patient MNT utilization was as follows: 11 383 (40.8%) used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 19 770 (70.9%) used opioids, 12 414 (44.5%) used muscle relaxants, 14 422 (51.7%) received lumbar epidural steroid injection (LESI), 11 156 (40.0%) attended physical therapy/occupational therapy, 4005 (14.4%) presented to the emergency department, and 4042 (14.5%) received chiropractor treatments. The total direct cost associated with all MNTs prior to index spinal fusion was $28 241 320 ($1013.07 per/patient). LESI comprised the largest portion of the total cost of MNT ($15 296 941, 54.2%), followed by opioids ($3 702 463, 13.1%) and NSAIDs ($3 058 335, 10.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Opioids are the most frequently prescribed and most used therapy in the preoperative period. Assuming minimal improvement in pain and functional disability after maximum nonoperative therapies, the incremental cost effectiveness ratio for MNT could be highly unfavorable.

Effect of spinal decompression on back pain in lumbar spinal stenosis: a Canadian Spine Outcomes Research Network (CSORN) study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Surgical decompression is usually offered for improvement of neurogenic claudication in patients with symptomatic lumbar canal stenosis. These patients often have associated low back pain (LBP) and little is known about the effect of decompression on this symptom.

PURPOSE

The goal of the present study is to specifically quantify the improvement in LBP following surgical decompression for lumbar canal stenosis and to identify factors associated with changes in LBP in this population.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a multicenter, retrospective review of consecutive spine surgery patients enrolled by the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic lumbar spine stenosis without instability between 2014 and 2017.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in LBP on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).

METHODS

Patient-reported outcomes were collected at baseline and at 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. The primary outcome was change in LBP on the NRS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the relationship between the outcome and potential factors associated with achieving minimal clinical important difference in back pain using a backward selection procedure.

RESULTS

In all, 1,221 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 64 years and 58% were males. Baseline back pain scores were available in 1,133 patients and follow-up evaluations were available in 968/1,133 (85%) patients at 3 months, 649/903 (72%) patients at 12 months, and 331/454 (73%) at 24 months. LBP significantly improved 3 months after surgery and the improvement was sustained at 24 months (p<.001). We found that 74% of patients reached the minimal clinical important difference in back pain. Predictive factors for sustained improvement (12 and 24 months) in LBP after surgical intervention were absence of narcotic usage or compensation claims and increased severity of LBP before surgery (high NRS).

CONCLUSIONS

Alleviation of clinically significant LBP was observed at 3 months after lumbar decompression surgery for neurogenic claudication and was maintained at 12 and 24 months after surgery in the majority of patients.

Assessing treatment and monitoring of musculoskeletal conditions using opioid versus nonopioid therapy: A cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study is to examine the treatment of noncancer musculoskeletal pain in different clinical settings by assessing patient demographics, pain diagnoses, opioid analgesic monitoring, and alternative treatments.Data was collected in a retrospective chart review involving 300 randomly selected charts with an active musculoskeletal diagnosis based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. The population consisted of primary care outpatient clinic and emergency department encounters during the timeframe of January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 in a predominantly rural community in Michigan. Variables included prescription medications, musculoskeletal conditions, and prescription drug monitoring modalities. Statistical analysis was accomplished using means, standard deviations, proportions, 2-sample proportional tests, multivariable logistic regression, and multinomial regression models.Opioid prescribing was observed in 64% of outpatient and 68.9% of emergency department encounters. Back pain was the most common problem with 61.9% patients prescribed opioids having at least 1 diagnosis of back pain. Patients on opioids were older (mean age 58) than patients taking nonopioids (mean age 50). For every year of increasing age, there is a 3.1% increase in the odds of an opioid being prescribed (odds ratio 1.03, confidence interval 1.012-1.049, P = .001). Documentation was extremely low with only 15.2%, 1.5%, and 1.5% of patient charts prescribed opioids demonstrating documentation of urine drug screens, pain agreements, and review of a state prescription drug monitoring program, respectively.Despite drug monitoring recommendations, low rates of monitoring were observed. Back pain was the largest contributing pain location and had higher opioid use compared to other sites. Many patients had additional pain medications being concurrently prescribed with opioids suggesting that musculoskeletal pain is not often controlled by a single medication type. Reported alcohol abuse, active tobacco use, and illicit substance use can serve as predictors when assessing patients for pain management options. The use of alternative measures and integrative treatment modalities (which saw low utilization in this study) should be implemented as either primary or supplementary therapy as a way to reduce the pharmacologic burden on the patient.

Association of opioid use and peripheral artery disease

BACKGROUND

Prescription opioids account for 40% of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths, and national efforts have intensified to reduce opioid prescriptions. Little is known about the relationship between peripheral artery disease (PAD) and high-risk opioid use. The objectives of this study were to evaluate this relationship and to assess the impact of PAD treatment on opiate use.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the Truven Health MarketScan database (Truven Health Analytics, Ann Arbor, Mich), a deidentified national private insurance claims database, was queried to identify patients with PAD (two or more International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes of PAD ≥2 months apart, with at least 2 years of continuous enrollment) from 2007 to 2015. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) was defined as the presence of rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene. The primary outcome was high opioid use, defined as two or more opioid prescriptions within a 1-year period. Multivariable analysis was used to determine risk factors for high opioid use.

RESULTS

A total of 178,880 patients met the inclusion criteria, 35% of whom had CLI. Mean ± standard deviation follow-up time was 5.3 ± 2.1 years. An average of 24.7% of patients met the high opioid use criteria in any given calendar year, with a small but significant decline in high opioid use after 2010 (P < .01). During years of high opioid use, 5.9 ± 5.5 yearly prescriptions were filled. A new diagnosis of PAD increased high opioid use (21.7% before diagnosis vs 27.3% after diagnosis; P < .001). A diagnosis of CLI was also associated with increased high opioid use (25.4% before diagnosis vs 34.5% after diagnosis; P < .001). Multivariable analysis identified back pain (odds ratio [OR], 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84-1.93; P < .001) and illicit drug use (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.72-2.03; P < .001) as the highest predictors of high opioid use. A diagnosis of CLI was also associated with higher risk (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.57-1.64; P < .001). A total of 43,443 PAD patients (24.3%) underwent 80,816 PAD-related procedures. After exclusion of periprocedural opioid prescriptions (4.9% of all opioid prescriptions), the yearly percentage of high opioid users increased from 25.8% before treatment to 29.6% after treatment (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PAD are at increased risk for high opioid use, with nearly one-quarter meeting described criteria. CLI and treatment for PAD additionally increase high opioid use. In addition to heightened awareness and active opioid management, our findings warrant further investigation into underlying causes and deterrents of high-risk opioid use.