Persistent opioid use is associated with worse survival after lobectomy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer

Opioids and Cancer: Current Understanding and Clinical Considerations

Pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer. Pain not only negatively affects the quality of life of patients with cancer, but it has also been associated with reduced survival. Pain management is therefore a critical component of cancer care. Prescription opioids remain the first-line approach for the management of moderate-to-severe pain associated with cancer. However, there has been increasing interest in understanding whether these analgesics could impact cancer progression. Furthermore, epidemiological data link a possible association between prescription opioid usage and cancer development. Until more robust evidence is available, patients with cancer with moderate-to-severe pain may receive opioids to decrease suffering. However, future studies should be conducted to evaluate the role of opioids and opioid receptors in specific cancers.

A novel investigation into the negative impact of opioid use on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have effectively improved the clinical outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Opioids are commonly used for pain relief in cancer patients. This study aims to clarify the prognostic impact of opioid use in advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICI therapy.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was carried out using online databases before July 2023. The meta-analysis was used to clarify the correlation of opioid use with the overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) of ICI-treated NSCLC patients, both of which were determined using hazard ratios (HRs) coupled with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Then, an independent cohort enrolling 181 NSCLC patients was utilized for validation. Finally, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis based on TCGA cohort was performed to investigate the prognostic significance of opioid target genes (OTGs) and their correlation with immune infiltration in NSCLC patients.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies enrolling 1174 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Opioid use was negatively associated with worse PFS (HR = 2.16, 95 %CI: 1.26-3.71) and OS (HR = 2.02, 95 %CI: 1.54-2.63) in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. The retrospective validation confirmed the above result and identified opioid use as an independent unfavorable predictor for PFS and OS in both the entire cohort and ICI subgroup. The bioinformatic analysis identified 14 prognostic OTGs (CYP17A1, PDYN, PYCARD, FGA, NTSR1, FABP1, HPCA, PENK, PDGFB, LIN7A, FKBP5, TYMS, CACNA1H and LDHA), most of which were correlated with immune infiltration in NSCLC. A risk model was constructed based on 14 OTGs and found to effectively stratify the clinical outcome in both the training and validation set, independent of age, gender and TNM staging system. The model was also significantly correlated with infiltration of activated dendritic cells, neutrophils and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Finally, a nomogram was constructed based on the model, age, gender and TNM stage, which could predict well the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival of NSCLC patients.

CONCLUSION

Opioid use is correlated with the poor clinical outcome in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. Precise pain management is highly advocated and opioids are recommended to be cautiously used in these patients. OTGs have the potential to be prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC patients and their role in tumor immunity needs to be further investigated.

Long-term opioid therapy trajectories and overdose in patients with and without cancer

Objective

Pain is experienced by most patients with cancer and opioids are a cornerstone of management. Our objectives were (1) to identify patterns or trajectories of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) and their correlates among patients with and without cancer and (2) to assess the association between trajectories and risk for opioid overdose, considering the potential moderating role of cancer.

Methods and Analysis

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among individuals in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) database with incident LTOT with and without cancer (N=44,351; N=285,772, respectively) between 2010-2017. We investigated the relationship between LTOT trajectory and all International Classification of Diseases-9 and 10-defined accidental and intentional opioid-related overdoses.

Results

Trajectories of opioid receipt observed in patients without cancer and replicated in patients with cancer were: low-dose/stable trend, low-dose/de-escalating trend, moderate-dose/stable trend, moderate-dose/escalating with quadratic downturn trend, and high-dose/escalating with quadratic downturn trend. Time to first overdose was significantly predicted by higher-dose and escalating trajectories; the two low-dose trajectories conferred similar, lower risk. Conditional hazard ratios (99% CI) for the moderate-dose, moderate-dose/escalating with quadratic downturn and high-dose/escalating with quadratic downturn trends were 1·84 (1·18, 2·85), 2·56 (1·54, 4·25), and 2·41 (1·37, 4·26), respectively. Effects of trajectories on time to overdose did not differ by presence of cancer; inferences were replicated when restricting to patients with stage 3/4 cancer.

Conclusion

Patients with cancer face opioid overdose risks like patients without cancer. Future studies should seek to expand and address our knowledge about opioid risk in cancer patients.

Trial registration

None.

Postoperative Opioid Prescribing and New Persistent Opioid Use: The Risk of Excessive Prescribing

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the association between postoperative opioid prescribing and new persistent opioid use.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Opioid-nave patients who develop new persistent opioid use after surgery are at increased risk of opioid-related morbidity and mortality. However, the extent to which postoperative opioid prescribing is associated with persistent postoperative opioid use is unclear.

METHODS

Retrospective study of opioid-naïve adults undergoing surgery in Michigan from 1/1/2017 to 10/31/2019. Postoperative opioid prescriptions were identified using a statewide clinical registry and prescription fills were identified using Michigan's prescription drug monitoring program. The primary outcome was new persistent opioid use, defined as filling at least 1 opioid prescription between post-discharge days 4 to 90 and filling at least 1 opioid prescription between post-discharge days 91 to 180.

RESULTS

A total of 37,654 patients underwent surgery with a mean age of 52.2 (16.7) years and 20,923 (55.6%) female patients. A total of 31,920 (84.8%) patients were prescribed opioids at discharge. Six hundred twenty-two (1.7%) patients developed new persistent opioid use after surgery. Being prescribed an opioid at discharge was not associated with new persistent opioid use [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-1.09)]. However, among patients prescribed an opioid, patients prescribed the second largest [12 (interquartile range (IQR) 3) pills] and largest [20 (IQR 7) pills] quartiles of prescription size had higher odds of new persistent opioid use compared to patients prescribed the smallest quartile [7 (IQR 1) pills] of prescription size [aOR 1.39 (95% CI 1.04-1.86) andaOR 1.97 (95% CI 1.442.70), respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

In a cohort of opioid-naïve patients undergoing common surgical procedures, the risk of new persistent opioid use increased with the size of the prescription. This suggests that while opioid prescriptions in and of themselves may not place patients at risk of long-term opioid use, excessive prescribing does. Consequently, these findings support ongoing efforts to mitigate excessive opioid prescribing after surgery to reduce opioid-related harms.

Survival Outcomes Associated With the Size of Opioid Prescriptions in the Management of Chronic Pain Related to Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (ANC) often experience chronic pain. Opioids are generally recommended to treat tumor-related pain, but increased opioid use may lead to detrimental aftereffects, particularly with respect to tumor progression, resulting in reduced quality of life and increased risk of death. Our objective was to investigate whether the high size of opioid prescriptions is associated with poor overall survival (OS) in patients with ANC.

METHODS

A consecutive cohort of patients with newly diagnosed ANC who underwent high or low opioid prescription size treatment during 2012-2019 was retrospectively identified from our medical institutions. Survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method with a log-rank test. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between opioid use and OS, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Eastern Collaborative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), and ANC histology. The criterion to distinguish between the high opioid prescription size group [HD] and the low opioid prescription size group [LD] was 5 mg of oral morphine equivalents (OME) per 24 hours.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 244 consecutive patients (HD: n = 120, median age = 66 years [range, 40-81 years]; LD: n = 124, median age = 65 years [40-82 years]. Patients who underwent treatment with a high opioid prescription size had a worse median OS than those who underwent treatment with a low opioid prescription size (5.1 vs 6.6 months), and the high opioid prescription size was associated with a remarkable 48% higher risk of death than the low opioid prescription size (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.11-1.98; P = .005). The cumulative dose of opioids greater than or equal to 500 mg of OME was associated with a higher risk of death, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, ECOG PS, and ANC histology.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with newly diagnosed ANC experiencing palliative care, a high opioid prescription size may be associated with shorter OS than a low opioid prescription size.

New, long-term opioid use after lung cancer surgery is associated with reduced 2-year survival: a retrospective population-based cohort study in South Korea

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the proportion and associated factors for new long-term opioid use and its long-term effects after lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

The South Korean National Health Insurance Database was used as a nationwide registration data source. All patients undergoing lung cancer surgery between 2011 and 2018 were included, and patients who were preoperative opioid users were excluded from the analysis. New long-term opioid use was defined as an active opioid prescription at 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

In total, 54 509 patients were included in the final analysis. At 6 months postoperatively, 3325 (6.1%) patients who were newly prescribed opioids comprised the new long-term opioid user group. Older age, male sex, wider surgical extent, open thoracotomy, increased Charlson Comorbidity Index score, neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, preoperative anxiety disorder and insomnia disorder were associated with a higher rate of new long-term opioid use. The new long-term opioid user group showed a 40% (HR, 1.40; 95% CI 1.29 to 1.53; p<0.001) higher risk of 2-year all-cause mortality. Moreover, the new long-term potent opioid user and less potent opioid user groups showed a 92% (HR, 1.92; 95% CI 1.67 to 2.21; p<0.001) and 22% (HR, 1.22; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.36; p<0.001) higher risk of 2-year all-cause mortality, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Among preoperative opioid-naive patients in South Korea, 6.1% became new long-term opioid users after lung cancer surgery. Certain factors are potential risk factors for new long-term opioid use, which could be associated with poorer long-term survival outcomes.

The potential interplay between Opioid and the Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4)

CONTEXT

Opioids are available for the management of severe and chronic pain. However, long-term use of high-dose opioids could lead to physiologic tolerance, hyperalgesia, gastrointestinal immobility, addiction, respiratory depression, tumor progression, and inhibition of the immune system. It seems some of these adverse effects of opioids might be induced by TLR-4 signaling.

OBJECTIVE

The review aims to investigate the potential interplay between opioids and TLR-4 in CNS, gastrointestinal, cancer, and immune system.

METHODS

The search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, web of sciences, and Google scholar was performed for all relevant studies published. From a total of 513 papers obtained at the initial database search, publications including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies were selected for the review.

RESULTS

A comprehensive review of studies indicated that using opioids for the reduction of pain might induce adverse effects such as analgesic tolerance, hyperalgesia, cancer progression, and suppression of the immune system. Some studies have indicated these effects may be due to a change in the level of expression and signaling pathway of TLR-4. The generalizability of the results was limited due to the inconsistency of findings.

CONCLUSIONS

More studies are needed to clarify TLR-4-mediated opioid effects on the biology or stages of the disease as well as the role of different types of opioids, appropriate dosage, and exposure in various contexts. Designing the drug candidate and doing many formulation studies for different diseases and various stages of disease could be associated with effective treatment and pain management.

The µ-Opioid Receptor in Cancer and Its Role in Perineural Invasion: A Short Review and New Evidence

Cancer is a significant public health problem worldwide. While there has been a steady decrease in the cancer death rate over the last two decades, the number of survivors has increased and, thus, cancer-related sequela. Pain affects the life of patients with cancer and survivors. Prescription opioids continue as the analgesic of choice to treat moderate-to-severe cancer-related pain. There has been controversy on whether opioids impact cancer progression by acting on cancer cells or the tumor microenvironment. The μ-opioid receptor is the site of action of prescription opioids. This receptor can participate in an important mechanism of cancer spread, such as perineural invasion. In this review, current evidence on the role of the μ-opioid receptor in cancer growth is summarized and preliminary evidence about its effect on the cross-talk between sensory neurons and malignant cells is provided.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) exhibits dual intraoperative and postoperative advantages for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is a lack of data regarding its long-term survival superiority over the double-lumen intubated mechanical ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (MV-VATS) or thoracotomy.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from 2011 to 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University among patients with NSCLC who underwent the SV-VATS or the MV-VATS. Patients receiving the SV-VATS were the study group, and patients receiving the MV-VATS were the control group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to establish 1:1 SV-VATS versus MV-VATS group matching to balance potential baseline confounding factors. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints were perioperative outcomes. The baseline information of these patients was recorded. The perioperative data and survival data were collected using a combination of electronic data record system and telephone interview. A 1:1:1 SPM was also used to compare the OS in the SV-VATS, the MV-VATS and thoracotomy group by using another database, including patients undergoing thoracotomy and the MV-VATS.

Results

For the two-group comparison, after 1:1 PSM, a matched cohort with 400 (200:200) patients was generated. The median follow-up time in this cohort was 4.78 years (IQR, 3.78–6.62 years). The OS (HR =0.567, 95% CI, 0.330 to 0.974, P=0.0498) and the DFS (HR =0.546, 95% CI, 0.346 to 0.863, P=0.013) of the SV-VATS group were significantly better than the MV-VATS group. There were no statistically differences between the SV-VATS and the MV-VATS group on the operative time (158.56±40.09 vs. 172.06±61.75, P=0.200) anesthesia time (247.4±62.49 vs. 256.7±58.52, P=0.528), and intraoperative bleeding volume (78.88±80.25 vs. 109.932±180.86, P=0.092). For the three-group comparison, after 1:1:1 PSM, 582 (194:194:194) patients were included for the comparison of SV-VATS, MV-VATS and thoracotomy. The OS of the SV-VATS group was significantly better than the thoracotomy group (HR =0.379, 95% CI, 0.233 to 0.617, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Invasive NSCLC patients undergoing SV-VATS lobectomy demonstrated better long-term outcomes compared with MV-VATS.

The Change Trend of Cause of Death in Patients With Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Surgery in US: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study Based on SEER Database

There are few studies on the cause of death in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer after surgery. Our aim is to study the trend of cause of death and risk factors affecting prognosis in the patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients in Surveillance, Epidemiology and End results database from 2004 to 2015. The change trend between cause of death and follow-up time was studied by calculating the proportion of cause of death at different periods and analyzing the cumulative risk. COX risk regression model was performed by univariate and multivariate analyses for survival analysis. Finally, 23,652 patients were enrolled. In the whole cohort, lung cancer accounted for 18.68% of deaths, followed by other causes (9.57%), heart disease (5.12%) and COPD (3.89%). With the increasing of follow-up time, the cumulative incidence of lung cancer was always the highest, but the growth rate in the late follow-up period was slower than that caused by heart disease and COPD. The proportion of death due to lung cancer decreased from 53.1%-73.1% in 0-30 months after follow-up to 7.8%-41.4% in 90 months after follow-up, while the proportion of deaths due to heart disease and COPD increased. Age was an independent risk factor for lung cancer-, heart disease- and COPD-specific survival, while lobectomy resection was a protective factor, even in patients older than 70 years old. In conclusion, during the follow-up period, lung cancer was still the main cause of death, but the proportion of patients died of heart disease and COPD increased gradually, especially in elderly. Furthermore, age was an important independent factor affecting prognosis, particularly for heart disease- and COPD-related mortality. The application of wedge resection in elderly patients needs further exploration.

Association of Mu-Opioid Receptor(MOR) Expression and Opioids Requirement With Survival in Patients With Stage I-III Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background

The use of opioids in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with shorter survival and not dependent on the expression of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). The role of opioid use and MOR expression in stage I-III PDAC has not been investigated.

Methods

We conducted retrospective study in patients with stage I-III PDAC. MOR expression and OPRM1 gene expression in tumour tissue and non-tumour tissue was measured. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included perineural invasion, intraoperative sufentanil consumption, and length of stay. We performed a subgroup group analysis to evaluate the interaction between levels of MOR expression, amount of opioids use (high versus low) and its association with survival.

Results

A total of 236 patients were enrolled in this study.There were no significantly difference in OS rates in patients with high versus low levels of MOR (1-year OS: 65.2% versus 70.6%, P=0.064; 3-year: 31.4% versus 35.8%, P=0.071; 5-year: 19.4% versus. 16.2%, P=0.153, respectively) in the tumours. The DFS rates between the groups were no significantly difference. Of note, a high expression of MOR combined with high opioid consumption was associated with poor prognosis in stage I-III PDAC patients. Tumor expressing high levels of MOR show higher rates of perineural invasion.

Conclusion

MOR is not an independent predictor of poor survival in stage I-III PDAC but associated with perineural invasion. Patients requiring high amounts of opioids intraoperatively show worse outcome if they are expressing high levels of MOR.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Bupivacaine/Epinephrine Intercostal Nerve Block as Part of an Enhanced Recovery After Thoracic Surgery (ERATS) Care Pathway for Robotic Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To examine how postoperative pain control after robotic thoracoscopic surgery varies with liposomal bupivacaine (LipoB) versus 0.5% bupivacaine/1:200,000 epinephrine (Bupi/Epi) intercostal nerve blocks within the context of an enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery (ERATS) protocol.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing robotic thoracoscopic procedures between September 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019 was conducted.

SETTING

University of Miami, single-institutional.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients.

INTERVENTIONS

Two hundred fifty-two patients had either LipoB intercostal nerve blocks (n = 129) or Bupi/Epi intercostal nerve blocks (n = 123) when undergoing robotic thoracic surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Comparative analysis of patient-reported pain levels, in-hospital and post-discharge opioid requirements, 90-day operative complications, length of hospital stay, and hospital costs was performed. Data were stratified to either anatomic lung resection or pulmonary wedge resection/mediastinal-pleural procedures. Bupi/Epi patients reported significantly more acute postoperative pain than LipoB patients, which correlated with higher in-hospital and post-discharge opioid requirements. There were no differences in postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, or hospital costs between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

As part of an ERATS protocol, infiltration of intercostal spaces and surgical wounds with LipoB for robotic thoracoscopic procedures afforded better postoperative subjective pain control and decreased opioid requirements without an increase in hospital costs as compared with use of Bupi/Epi.

Opioids and cancer prognosis: A summary of the clinical evidence

Pain is a common and devastating symptom among cancer patients. It can be caused by the cancer itself or by certain therapies like surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Opioids are the first line of treatment for moderate to severe cancer-related pain. Opioids alone or in combination with non-opioid analgesics and adjuvant medications are important components for pain management during the perioperative period for cancer patients. Opioids act on the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), which is expressed in cancer cells and non-malignant cells of the tumor microenvironment. Retrospective studies suggest an association between the expression of MOR in cancers and shorter survival. In addition, recent evidence suggests that opium use and prescription opioids can influence clinical oncological outcomes. In this review, we will summarize the clinical evidence regarding the effect of opioid administration and survival in patients with cancer as well as the current evidence involving MOR expression and cancer progression.

Survival features, prognostic factors, and determinants of diagnosis and treatment among Iranian patients with pancreatic cancer, a prospective study

OBJECTIVES

Investigating the survival features, and determinants of treatment and stage at presentation in Iran.

METHODS

461 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PC) were prospectively enrolled from Shariati hospital, Tehran, Iran, between 2011-2018. All patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography scanning, and physical examination. Validated questionnaire was completed for the participants and all were actively followed on monthly basis.

RESULTS

Median survival time was 6.5 months, and 1-, and 5-year survival rates were 26.2%, and 1.5%. Patients who were older (p<0.001), illiterate (p = 0.004), unmarried (p = 0.003), rural inhabitant (p = 0.013), opium user (p = 0.039), and had lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.002) had lower overall survival. Tumors located in the head of pancreas were more commonly diagnosed at lower stages (p<0.001). Only 10.4% of patients underwent surgery who were more commonly educated (p<0.001), married (p = 0.005), had a tumor located in the head of pancreas (p = 0.016), and were diagnosed at lower stages (p<0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders and risk factors, rural inhabitance (HR: 1.33 (95% CI: 1.01-1.74)), having more symptoms (HR for each increasing symptom: 1.06 (1.02-1.11)), using opium (HR: 1.51 (1.04-2.20)), having a tumor located in the body of pancreas (HR: 1.33 (1.02-1.75)), and having an advanced tumor stage (HR: 2.07 (1.34-3.19)) remained significantly associated with increased risk of mortality. After the adjusting for potential confounders, we did not find significant relationships between smoking, alcohol intake, and BMI with the risk of death among patients with pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Iranian patients with PC have very poor long-term survival. Besides tumor's stage and location, socioeconomic disparities could affect the probabilities of receiving treatment and/or survival in these patients. Opium use is an independent risk factor for mortality among PC patients in Iran.

Opioids and Cancer Mortality

OPINION STATEMENT

Opioids are the gold standard for the treatment of cancer-related pain. Preclinical studies have associated opioids with cancer progression and overall survival. In mice models, opioids have been shown to possess pro-tumor activity secondary to immunosuppression, migration of tumor cells, increased activity of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, and angiogenesis leading to tumor progression. In contrast, opioids have also been associated with having antitumor activity by activation of apoptosis and phagocytosis. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials in humans that are focused on the association between opioids and survival in cancer patients are lacking, which underscores the importance of being cautious when interpreting the results of the preclinical studies. Cancer-related pain is complex and multifactorial and may worsen as the disease progresses leading to higher opioid utilization. Moreover, cancer pain by itself has been associated with poor survival. The survival in these advanced cancer patients taking opioids may be more likely to be associated with cancer progression and not the opioid use. Adequate treatment of cancer pain has the potential to improve quality of life and performance status, highlighting the importance of continuing to use opioids to manage pain efficiently. More research is clearly needed.

Perioperative outcomes among chronic opioid users who receive lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify whether chronic opioid users are at increased risk for complications or hospital readmission following lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

The National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was queried to identify patients older than age 65 years who received a lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. Chronic opioid users were identified through Medicare Part D records and were defined as those with >120 cumulative days of opioid supply for the year before surgery. A systematic 1:2 propensity matching was performed among chronic opioid users.

RESULTS

Six thousand four hundred thirty-seven patients were identified, among whom 3627 (56%) were opioid naïve, 1866 (29%) were intermittent opioid users, and 944 (15%) were chronic opioid users. After propensity matching, 30-day mortality and 90-day mortality were nearly 2-fold higher among chronic opioid users compared with nonchronic users. In addition, length of stay and hospital charges were increased among chronic opioid users (median, 6 vs 7 days and mean increase, $12,526, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that intermittent opioid users and chronic opioid users were associated with an increased risk of 90-day hospital readmission compared with opioid-naïve patients (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.71 and odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-2.12, respectively), predominantly burdened by infectious, renal, and pulmonary causes.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who chronically use opioids before lobectomy represent high-risk patients. The risk of 30- and 90-day mortality, length of stay, hospital charges, and 90-day readmission after lobectomy among chronic opioid users are substantially elevated.