Dataset Information

Nonopioid Analgesic Prescriptions Filled after Surgery among Older Adults in Ontario, Canada: A Population-based Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The objective was to assess changes over time in prescriptions filled for nonopioid analgesics for older postoperative patients in the immediate postdischarge period. The authors hypothesized that the number of patients who filled a nonopioid analgesic prescription increased during the study period.

Methods

The authors performed a population-based cohort study using linked health administrative data of 278,366 admissions aged 66 yr or older undergoing surgery between fiscal year 2013 and 2019 in Ontario, Canada. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with new filled prescriptions for nonopioid analgesics within 7 days of discharge, and the secondary outcome was the analgesic class. The authors assessed whether patients filled prescriptions for a nonopioid only, an opioid only, both opioid and nonopioid prescriptions, or a combination opioid/nonopioid.

Results

Overall, 22% (n = 60,181) of patients filled no opioid prescription, 2% (n = 5,534) filled a nonopioid only, 21% (n = 59,608) filled an opioid only, and 55% (n = 153,043) filled some combination of opioid and nonopioid. The percentage of patients who filled a nonopioid prescription within 7 days postoperatively increased from 9% (n = 2,119) in 2013 to 28% (n = 13,090) in 2019, with the greatest increase for acetaminophen: 3% (n = 701) to 20% (n = 9,559). The percentage of patients who filled a combination analgesic prescription decreased from 53% (n = 12,939) in 2013 to 28% (n = 13,453) in 2019. However, the percentage who filled both an opioid and nonopioid prescription increased: 4% (n = 938) to 21% (n = 9,880) so that the overall percentage of patients who received both an opioid and a nonopioid remained constant over time 76% (n = 18,642) in 2013 to 75% (n = 35,391) in 2019.

Conclusions

The proportion of postoperative patients who fill prescriptions for nonopioid analgesics has increased. However, rather than a move to use of nonopioids alone for analgesia, this represents a shift away from combination medications toward separate prescriptions for opioids and nonopioids.

Editor’s perspective

SUBMITTER: Jivraj NK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10411646 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Nonopioid Analgesic Prescriptions Filled after Surgery among Older Adults in Ontario, Canada: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Jivraj Naheed K NK Ladha Karim S KS Goel Akash A Hill Andrea A Wijeysundera Duminda N DN Bateman Brian T BT Neuman Mark M Wunsch Hannah H

Anesthesiology 20230201 2

<h4>Background</h4>The objective was to assess changes over time in prescriptions filled for nonopioid analgesics for older postoperative patients in the immediate postdischarge period. The authors hypothesized that the number of patients who filled a nonopioid analgesic prescription increased during the study period.<h4>Methods</h4>The authors performed a population-based cohort study using linked health administrative data of 278,366 admissions aged 66 yr or older undergoing surgery between fi ...[more]

PMID: 36512729

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Dataset Information

Nonopioid Analgesic Prescriptions Filled after Surgery among Older Adults in Ontario, Canada: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Editor’s perspective

Publications

Nonopioid Analgesic Prescriptions Filled after Surgery among Older Adults in Ontario, Canada: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Similar Datasets

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