The epidemiology of regular opioid use and its association with mortality: Prospective cohort study of 466 486 UK biobank participants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioids have, at most, small benefits for non-cancer pain in the medium and long-term but there is good evidence that they cause harm. The current study describes the characteristics and clinical status of people taking regular opioids in Great Britain and determines whether use is associated with mortality risk.

Methods

An analysis of participants in UK Biobank, a prospective population-based study. At recruitment (2006-10) participants reported medicines which they regularly used in addition to lifestyle and health-related factors. Information was available on deaths until October 2016.

Findings

There were 466 486 participants (54% women) aged 40-69 years and without a prior history of cancer of whom 5.5% were regularly using opioids. Use increased with a

SUBMITTER: Macfarlane GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7170951 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature