1
|
Ge S, Tian C, Wu L, Liu M, Lu H. Prescribed opioid use is associated with increased all-purpose emergency department visits and hospitalizations in community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1092199. [PMID: 36582257 PMCID: PMC9792694 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1092199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The geriatric and health characteristics of older adults make them more susceptible to the effects of opioids than younger groups. The number of older adults in the United States visiting the emergency department (ED) and overusing opioids has increased in recent years. Research examining their relationship is, however, limited. METHODS Using information from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we included older adults aged 65 and older. To investigate the relationship between prescribed opioid use and 12-months ED visits and hospitalizations, linear regression and logistic regression models were built while adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, employment, general health status, history of depression, and living arrangement. RESULTS Our study population consisted of 8,631 participants (mean age 74.3). Most of them were females (58.3%) and Caucasian (81.6%). About 16% of the participants used prescribed opioids over the past 12 months. Of the participants with prescribed opioid use, 65.1% of them did so to treat chronic pain. The adjusted regression models revealed that prescribed opioid use was independently and positively associated with 12-months ED visits (β = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18, 0.26) and hospitalizations (Odds ratio [OR] = 3.78, 95% CI 3.29, 4.35). Other risk factors for 12-months ED visits and/or hospitalizations included advanced age, male gender, unemployment/retirement, African American ethnicity, living alone, fair or poor general health status, and history of depression. DISCUSSIONS Clinicians should screen older adults at high risk for ED visits and hospitalizations and explore multimodal pain management with them to help them reduce/stop using opioids. These efforts may decrease their chronic pain, opioid use, opioid use-related adverse health outcomes, ED visits, as well as hospitalizations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Song Ge
- RN-BSN Program, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Chong Tian
- School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Wu
- Janssen R&D, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Minhui Liu
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Haidong Lu
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases and the Public Health Modeling Unit, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ventuneac A, Hecht G, Forcht E, Duah BA, Tarar S, Langenbach B, Gates J, Cain D, Rendina HJ, Aberg JA, Perlman DC. Chronic High Risk Prescription Opioid Use Among Persons With HIV. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2021; 6:645992. [PMID: 34095287 PMCID: PMC8176351 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2021.645992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Persons with HIV (PWH) are a population at risk for adverse sequelae of opioid use. Yet, few studies have examined correlates of chronic high risk opioid use and its impact on HIV outcomes. Trends in prescribing patterns and identification of factors that impact the use of opioid prescriptions among PWH are crucial to determine prevention and treatment interventions. This study examined electronic medical records (EMR) of patients receiving HIV care to characterize prescribing patterns and identify risk factors for chronic high risk prescription opioid use and the impact on HIV outcomes among PWH in primary care from July 1, 2016-December 31, 2017. EMR were analyzed from 8,882 patients who were predominantly male and ethnically and racially diverse with half being 50 years of age or older. The majority of the 8,744 prescriptions (98% oral and 2% transdermal preparations) given to 1,040 (12%) patients were oxycodone (71%), 8% were morphine, 7% tramadol, 4% hydrocodone, 4% codeine, 2% fentanyl, and 4% were other opioids. The number of monthly prescriptions decreased about 14% during the study period. Bivariate analyses indicated that most demographic and clinical variables were associated with receipt of any opioid prescription. After controlling for patient socio-demographic characteristics and clinical factors, the odds of receipt of any prescription were higher among patients with pain diagnoses and opioid use and mental health disorders. In addition, the odds of receipt of high average daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescriptions were higher for patients with pain diagnoses. Lastly, patients with substance use disorders (SUD) had an increased likelihood of detectable viral load compared to patients with no SUD, after adjusting for known covariates. Our findings show that despite opioid prescribing guidelines and monitoring systems, additional efforts are needed to prevent chronic high risk prescriptions in patients with comorbid conditions, including pain-related, mental health and substance use disorders. Evidence about the risk for chronic high risk use based on prescribing patterns could better inform pain management and opioid prescribing practices for patients receiving HIV care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ventuneac
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Ana Ventuneac,
| | - Gavriella Hecht
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Emily Forcht
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Bianca A. Duah
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Shafaq Tarar
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Blanche Langenbach
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Jay Gates
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - Demetria Cain
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, NY, United States
| | - H. Jonathon Rendina
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, NY, United States
- Health Psychology and Clinical Science PhD Program, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY, NY, United States
| | - Judith A. Aberg
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| | - David C. Perlman
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Division of Infectious Diseases, NY, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cunningham CO, Starrels JL, Zhang C, Bachhuber MA, Sohler NL, Levin FR, Minami H, Slawek DE, Arnsten JH. Medical Marijuana and Opioids (MEMO) Study: protocol of a longitudinal cohort study to examine if medical cannabis reduces opioid use among adults with chronic pain. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e043400. [PMID: 33376181 PMCID: PMC7778768 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the USA, opioid analgesic use and overdoses have increased dramatically. One rapidly expanding strategy to manage chronic pain in the context of this epidemic is medical cannabis. Cannabis has analgesic effects, but it also has potential adverse effects. Further, its impact on opioid analgesic use is not well studied. Managing pain in people living with HIV is particularly challenging, given the high prevalence of opioid analgesic and cannabis use. This study's overarching goal is to understand how medical cannabis use affects opioid analgesic use, with attention to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content, HIV outcomes and adverse events. METHODS AND ANALYSES We are conducting a cohort study of 250 adults with and without HIV infection with (a) severe or chronic pain, (b) current opioid use and (c) who are newly certified for medical cannabis in New York. Over 18 months, we collect data via in-person visits every 3 months and web-based questionnaires every 2 weeks. Data sources include: questionnaires; medical, pharmacy and Prescription Monitoring Program records; urine and blood samples; and physical function tests. Using marginal structural models and comparisons within participants' 2-week time periods (unit of analysis), we will examine how medical cannabis use (primary exposure) affects (1) opioid analgesic use (primary outcome), (2) HIV outcomes (HIV viral load, CD4 count, antiretroviral adherence, HIV risk behaviours) and (3) adverse events (cannabis use disorder, illicit drug use, diversion, overdose/deaths, accidents/injuries, acute care utilisation). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study is approved by the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine institutional review board. Findings will be disseminated through conferences, peer-reviewed publications and meetings with medical cannabis stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03268551); Pre-results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chinazo O Cunningham
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Joanna L Starrels
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Chenshu Zhang
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Marcus A Bachhuber
- Section of Community and Population Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Nancy L Sohler
- School of Medicine, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Frances R Levin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Haruka Minami
- Psychology Department, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Deepika E Slawek
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Julia H Arnsten
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Salahuddin MF, Qrareya AN, Mahdi F, Jackson D, Foster M, Vujanovic T, Box JG, Paris JJ. Combined HIV-1 Tat and oxycodone activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal axes and promote psychomotor, affective, and cognitive dysfunction in female mice. Horm Behav 2020; 119:104649. [PMID: 31821792 PMCID: PMC7071558 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The majority of HIV+ patients present with neuroendocrine dysfunction and ~50% experience co-morbid neurological symptoms including motor, affective, and cognitive dysfunction, collectively termed neuroHIV. In preclinical models, the neurotoxic HIV-1 regulatory protein, trans-activator of transcription (Tat), promotes neuroHIV pathology that can be exacerbated by opioids. We and others find gonadal steroids, estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4), to rescue Tat-mediated pathology. However, the combined effects of Tat and opioids on neuroendocrine function and the subsequent ameliorative capacity of gonadal steroids are unknown. We found that conditional HIV-1 Tat expression in naturally-cycling transgenic mice dose-dependently potentiated oxycodone-mediated psychomotor behavior. Tat increased depression-like behavior in a tail-suspension test among proestrous mice, but decreased it among diestrous mice (who already demonstrated greater depression-like behavior); oxycodone reversed these effects. Combined Tat and oxycodone produced apparent behavioral disinhibition of anxiety-like responding which was greater on diestrus than on proestrus. These mice made more central entries in an open field, but spent less time there and demonstrated greater circulating corticosterone. Tat increased the E2:P4 ratio of circulating steroids on diestrus and acute oxycodone attenuated this effect, but repeated oxycodone exacerbated it. Corticotropin-releasing factor was increased by Tat expression, acute oxycodone exposure, and was greater on diestrus compared to proestrus. In human neuroblastoma cells, Tat exerted neurotoxicity that was ameliorated by E2 (1 or 10 nM) or P4 (100, but not 10 nM) independent of oxycodone. Oxycodone decreased gene expression of estrogen and κ-opioid receptors. Thus, neuroendocrine function may be an important target for HIV-1 Tat/opioid interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed F Salahuddin
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Alaa N Qrareya
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Fakhri Mahdi
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Dejun Jackson
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Matthew Foster
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Tamara Vujanovic
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - J Gaston Box
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
| | - Jason J Paris
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University, MS 38677-1848, USA; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kowalski-McGraw M, Green-McKenzie J, Pandalai SP, Schulte PA. Characterizing the Interrelationships of Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Drugs With Worker Health and Workplace Hazards. J Occup Environ Med 2018; 59:1114-1126. [PMID: 28930799 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine drug use, which has risen significantly, can affect worker health. Exploration of the scientific literature assessed (1) interrelationships of such drug use, occupational risk factors, and illness and injury, and (2) occupational and personal risk factor combinations that can affect their use. METHODS The scientific literature from 2000 to 2015 was searched to determine any interrelationships. RESULTS Evidence for eight conceptual models emerged based on the search yield of 133 articles. These models summarize interrelationships among prescription opioid and benzodiazepine use with occupational injury and illness. Factors associated with the use of these drugs included fatigue, impaired cognition, falls, motor vehicle crashes, and the use of multiple providers. CONCLUSION Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine drugs may be both a personal risk factor for work-related injury and a consequence of workplace exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Kowalski-McGraw
- The Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Drs Kowalski-McGraw, Green-McKenzie); Geisinger Health, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania (Dr Kowalski-McGraw); and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio (Drs Pandalai, Schulte)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kendall CE, Boucher LM, Mark AE, Martin A, Marshall Z, Boyd R, Oickle P, Diliso N, Pineau D, Renaud B, Rose T, LeBlanc S, Tyndall M, Lee OM, Bayoumi AM. A cohort study examining emergency department visits and hospital admissions among people who use drugs in Ottawa, Canada. Harm Reduct J 2017; 14:16. [PMID: 28494791 PMCID: PMC5427560 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-017-0143-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The health of people who use drugs (PWUD) is characterized by multimorbidity and chronicity of health conditions, necessitating an understanding of their health care utilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions among a cohort of PWUD. Methods We used a retrospective observational design between 2012 and 2013. The population was a marginalized cohort of PWUD (the PROUD study) for whom survey data was linked (n = 663) to provincial health administrative data housed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. We constructed a 5:1 comparison group matched by age, sex, income quintile, and region. The main outcomes were defined as having two or more ED visits, or one or more hospital admissions, in the year prior to survey completion. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with these outcomes. Results Compared to the matched cohort, PWUD had higher rates of ED visits (rate ratio [RR] 7.0; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.5–7.6) and hospitalization (RR 7.7; 95% CI 5.9–10.0). After adjustment, factors predicting more ED visits were receiving disability (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.0; 95% CI 1.7–5.5) or income assistance (AOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.5–5.0), injection drug use (AOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.4), incarceration within 12 months (AOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.4), mental health comorbidity (AOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.4–3.1), and a suicide attempt within 12 months (AOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1–3.4). Receiving methadone (AOR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.9) and having a regular family physician (AOR 0.5; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) were associated with lower odds of having more ED visits. Factors associated with more hospital admissions included Aboriginal identity (AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.4–4.1), receiving disability (AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.1–5.4), non-injection drug use (opioids and non-opioids) (AOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1–4.4), comorbid HIV (AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2–5.6), mental health comorbidity (AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3–4.2), and unstable housing (AOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0–3.4); there were no protective factors for hospitalization. Conclusions Improved post-incarceration support, housing services, and access to integrated primary care services including opioid replacement therapy may be effective interventions to decrease acute care use among PWUD, including targeted approaches for people receiving social assistance or with mental health concerns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Kendall
- Bruyère Research Institute, 43 Bruyère Street (Annex E), Ottawa, ON, K1N 5C8, Canada.
| | - Lisa M Boucher
- Bruyère Research Institute, 43 Bruyère Street (Annex E), Ottawa, ON, K1N 5C8, Canada
| | - Amy E Mark
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Administrative Services Building, 1st Floor, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - Alana Martin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - Zack Marshall
- Social Development Studies and School of Social Work, Renison University College-University of Waterloo, 240 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G4, Canada
| | - Rob Boyd
- Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, 221 Nelson Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1C7, Canada
| | - Pam Oickle
- Ottawa Public Health, 179 Clarence St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5P7, Canada
| | - Nicola Diliso
- PROUD Community Advisory Committee, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dave Pineau
- PROUD Community Advisory Committee, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Brad Renaud
- PROUD Community Advisory Committee, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tiffany Rose
- PROUD Community Advisory Committee, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sean LeBlanc
- PROUD Community Advisory Committee, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Drug Users Advocacy League, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655W 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Olivia M Lee
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8 L1, Canada
| | - Ahmed M Bayoumi
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Administrative Services Building, 1st Floor, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada.,Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute and Division of General Internal Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto ON 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Starrels JL, Peyser D, Haughton L, Fox A, Merlin JS, Arnsten JH, Cunningham CO. When human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment goals conflict with guideline-based opioid prescribing: A qualitative study of HIV treatment providers. Subst Abus 2017; 37:148-53. [PMID: 26860130 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1129391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have a high prevalence of chronic pain and opioid use, making HIV care a critical setting for improving the safety of opioid prescribing. Little is known about HIV treatment providers' perspectives about opioid prescribing to patients with chronic pain. METHODS The authors administered a questionnaire and conducted semistructured telephone interviews with 18 HIV treatment providers (infectious disease specialists, general internists, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) in Bronx, NY. Open-ended interview questions focused on providers' experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about opioid prescribing and about the use of guideline-based opioid prescribing practices (conservative prescribing, and monitoring for and responding to misuse). Transcripts were thematically analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. RESULTS Eighteen HIV treatment providers included 13 physicians, four nurse practitioners, and one physician assistant. They were 62% female, 56% white, and practiced as HIV treatment providers for a mean of 14.6 years. Most reported always or almost always using opioid treatment agreements (56%) and urine drug testing (61%) with their patients on long-term opioid therapy. HIV treatment providers tended to view opioid prescribing for chronic pain within the "HIV paradigm," a set of priorities and principles defined by three key themes: (1) primacy of HIV goals, (2) familiarity with substance use, and (3) the clinician as ally. The HIV paradigm sometimes supported, and sometimes conflicted with, guideline-based opioid prescribing practices. For HIV treatment providers, perceived alignment with the HIV paradigm determined whether and how guideline-based opioid prescribing practices were adopted. For example, the primacy of HIV goals superseded conservative opioid prescribing when providers prescribed opioids with the goal of retaining patients in HIV care. CONCLUSION These findings highlight unique factors in HIV care that influence adoption of guideline-based opioid prescribing practices. These factors should be considered in future research and initiatives to address opioid prescribing in HIV care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L Starrels
- a Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center , Bronx, New York , USA
| | - Deena Peyser
- b Center for Alcohol Studies , Rutgers University , New York , New York , USA
| | - Lorlette Haughton
- a Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center , Bronx, New York , USA
| | - Aaron Fox
- a Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center , Bronx, New York , USA
| | - Jessica S Merlin
- c School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
| | - Julia H Arnsten
- a Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center , Bronx, New York , USA
| | - Chinazo O Cunningham
- a Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center , Bronx, New York , USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Meghani SH, Knafl GJ. Patterns of analgesic adherence predict health care utilization among outpatients with cancer pain. Patient Prefer Adherence 2016; 10:81-98. [PMID: 26869772 PMCID: PMC4734825 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s93726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in chronic noncancer pain settings have found that opioid use increases health care utilization. Despite the key role of analgesics, specifically opioids, in the setting of cancer pain, there is no literature to our knowledge about the relationship between adherence to prescribed around-the-clock (ATC) analgesics and acute health care utilization (hospitalization) among patients with cancer pain. PURPOSE To identify adherence patterns over time for cancer patients taking ATC analgesics for pain, cluster these patterns into adherence types, combine the types into an adherence risk factor for hospitalization, identify other risk factors for hospitalization, and identify risk factors for inconsistent analgesic adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from a 3-month prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with solid tumors or multiple myeloma, having cancer-related pain, and having at least one prescription of oral ATC analgesics were collected. Adherence data were collected electronically using the medication event-monitoring system. Analyses were conducted using adaptive modeling methods based on heuristic search through alternative models controlled by likelihood cross-validation scores. RESULTS Six adherence types were identified and combined into the risk factor for hospitalization of inconsistent versus consistent adherence over time. Twenty other individually significant risk factors for hospitalization were identified, but inconsistent analgesic adherence was the strongest of these predictors (ie, generating the largest likelihood cross-validation score). These risk factors were adaptively combined into a model for hospitalization based on six pairwise interaction risk factors with exceptional discrimination (ie, area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve of 0.91). Patients had from zero to five of these risk factors, with an odds ratio of 5.44 (95% confidence interval 3.09-9.58) for hospitalization, with a unit increase in the number of such risk factors. CONCLUSION Inconsistent adherence to prescribed ATC analgesics, specifically the interaction of strong opioids and inconsistent adherence, is a strong risk factor for hospitalization among cancer outpatients with pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salimah H Meghani
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, NewCourtland Center of Transitions and Health, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Correspondence: Salimah H Meghani, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Claire M Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard – Room 337, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217, USA, Tel +1 215 573 7128, Fax +1 215 573 7507, Email
| | - George J Knafl
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|