Prescription Opioid Dose After Vaginal Delivery and the Risk of Serious Opioid-Related Events: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose
Postpartum opioid use remains common among women with uncomplicated vaginal delivery and may increase the risk of serious opioid-related events. Therefore, we examined the association between the dose of the first filled opioid prescription after vaginal delivery and the subsequent risk of serious opioid-related events.Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study among women enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid with a vaginal delivery (2007-2015). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for serious opioid-related events after delivery according to the dose (morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) of the first postpartum opioid prescription, accounting for comorbidities, medication use, parity, and delivery complications. Serious opioid-related events were defined as the occurrence of persistent opioid use, a methadone or buprenorphine fill, opioid use disorder diagnosis, opioid overdose, or opioid-related death. We used filled pharmacy data to characterize the dose of the first postpartum opioid prescription filled within 4 days after delivery.Results
More than one-half of women (53.2%; n = 147,598) filled an opioid prescription within 4 days of a vaginal delivery. After accounting for baseline risk factors, filling a postpartum opioid prescription was associated with an increased risk of serious opioid-related events across all dose categories, compared with women filling none (aHR 1-99 MME, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.33-1.74; aHR 100-149 MME, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.26-1.58; aHR 150-199 MME, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.26-1.57: and aHR ≥200 MME, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.43-1.78).Conclusions
Filling a postpartum opioid prescription after a vaginal delivery was associated with an increased risk of serious opioid-related events, regardless of dose. Prescribing guidelines should discourage the routine prescribing of opioids after vaginal delivery.
SUBMITTER: Wiese AD
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8260443 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundOpioid analgesics are commonly prescribed to women after cesarean delivery. There is a growing effort to prescribe opioids judiciously; however, the risk of serious opioid-related events associated with specific prescribing patterns after cesarean delivery remains unclear.ObjectiveWe examined the association between the dosage of the first opioid prescription filled after cesarean delivery and the risk of serious opioid-related events.Study designWe identified opioid-naïve women with a cesarean delivery enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid (2007-2014). Pharmacy prescription fill data characterized opioids filled within 5 days after delivery. Patients were followed up from day 5 after delivery to the earliest of the following: serious opioid-related event (persistent opioid use, evidence of opioid use disorder [diagnosis or methadone or buprenorphine fill], overdose, or opioid-related death), non-opioid-related death, enrollment loss, or 365th day. We estimated the adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the serious opioid-related event outcomes based on the dosage (morphine milligram equivalents) of the first filled opioid prescription, adjusting for baseline sociodemographic characteristics, delivery complications, multiple deliveries, comorbidities, and medication use. Secondary analyses examined the role of commonly prescribed opioid strengths and quantities.ResultsThe overall incidence rate of serious opioid-related events among women after cesarean delivery was 3.0 per 100 person-years. Compared with women who did not fill an opioid prescription, the rate of serious opioid-related events was higher among women who filled an opioid prescription, although only significantly higher among women who filled a total dosage of ≥100 morphine milligram equivalents (97.1% of opioid prescriptions). In the secondary analyses, women with a low prescribed daily opioid dosage and women with a low prescribed number of oxycodone (5 mg) tablets (<10 tablets) were not at increased risk of serious opioid-related events compared with women who did not fill an opioid prescription.ConclusionOpioid-naïve women who filled a postpartum opioid prescription at commonly prescribed doses after cesarean delivery had an increased risk of serious opioid-related events compared to women who did not fill a postpartum opioid prescription. Low opioid doses were not associated with a significant increase in the risk of serious opioid-related events.
| S-EPMC8599660 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundNon-opioid analgesics are prescribed in combination with opioids among patients with long bone fracture to reduce opioid prescribing needs, yet evidence is limited on whether they reduce the risk of serious opioid-related events (SOREs). We compared the risk of SOREs among hospitalized patients with long bone fracture discharged with filled opioid prescriptions, with and without non-opioid analgesics.DesignWe identified a retrospective cohort of analgesic-naïve adult patients with a long bone fracture hospitalization using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database (2013-2020). The exposure was opioid and non-opioid analgesic (gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen) prescriptions filled in the 3 days before through 42 days after discharge. The outcome was the development of new persistent opioid use or opioid use disorder during follow-up (day 43 through day 408 after discharge). We used Cox proportional hazards regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting with overlap trimming to compare outcomes among those that filled an opioid and a non-opioid analgesic to those that filled only an opioid analgesic. In secondary analyses, we used separate models to compare those that filled a prescription for each specific non-opioid analgesic type with opioids to those that filled only opioids.ResultsOf 29 489 patients, most filled an opioid prescription alone (58.4%) or an opioid and non-opioid (22.0%). In the weighted proportional hazards regression model accounting for relevant covariates and total MME, filling both a non-opioid analgesic and an opioid analgesic was associated with 1.63 times increased risk of SOREs compared with filling an opioid analgesic only (95% CI 1.41 to 1.89). Filling a gabapentin prescription in combination with an opioid was associated with an increased risk of SOREs compared with those that filled an opioid only (adjusted HR: 1.84 (95% CI1.48 to 2.27)).ConclusionsFilling a non-opioid analgesic in combination with an opioid was associated with an increased risk of SOREs after long bone fracture.Level of evidenceLevel III, prognostic/epidemiological.Study typeRetrospective cohort study.
| S-EPMC11253739 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Although evidence from animal and human studies indicates opioid analgesics increase susceptibility to infections, it is unclear whether the risk varies by specific opioid. We compared the risk of serious infection among patients initiating long-acting opioid analgesics with and without previously reported immunosuppressive properties. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Tennessee Medicaid enrollees age ≥18 years initiating long-acting opioids (1995-2015). Hospitalizations for serious infection were identified using validated coding algorithms. We used multivariable Poisson regression models to calculate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to compare the infection risk among patients using long-acting opioids with known immunosuppressive properties (morphine, fentanyl, methadone) to the infection risk among patients using long-acting opioids without known immunosuppressive properties (oxycodone, oxymorphone, tramadol) accounting for demographics, opioid dose, comorbidities and pain conditions, medication use, frailty indicators, and healthcare encounter history using exposure propensity scores. We further compared users of individual long-acting opioids to long-acting morphine users (considered the prototypical immunosuppressive opioid). RESULTS:Among the 61 240 patients initiating opioids with immunosuppressive properties and 22 811 patients initiating opioids without immunosuppressive properties, we identified 1906 serious infections. Nonimmunosuppressive opioid users had a lower rate of infections than immunosuppressive opioid users (aIRR:0.78 [CI: 0.66-0.91]). Among individual opioids, oxycodone users had a lower rate of infection than morphine users (aIRR:0.73 [CI: 0.60-0.89]). There were no significant differences in the infection risk between other opioids and morphine. CONCLUSION:The risk of serious infections among long-acting opioid users varies by opioid type. Providers should carefully consider the risk of serious infections when making pain management decisions.
| S-EPMC6522680 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundState policies to optimize prescriber use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) have proliferated in recent years. Prominent policies include comprehensive mandates for prescriber use of PDMP, laws allowing delegation of PDMP access to office staff, and interstate PDMP data sharing. Evidence is limited regarding the effects of these policies on adverse opioid-related hospital events.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the effects of 3 PDMP policies on adverse opioid-related hospital events among patients with prescription opioid use.Research designWe examined 2011-2015 data from a large national commercial insurance database of privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients from 28 states with fully operating PDMPs by the end of 2010. We used a difference-in-differences framework to assess the probabilities of opioid-related hospital events and association with the implementation of PDMP policies. The analysis was conducted for adult patients with any prescription opioid use, a subsample of patients with long-term prescription opioid use, and stratified by older (65+) versus younger patients.ResultsComprehensive use mandates were associated with a relative reduction in the probability of opioid-related hospital events by 28% among patients with any opioid and 21% among patients with long-term opioid use. Such reduction was greater (in relative terms) among older patients despite the lower rate of these events among older than younger patients. Delegate laws and interstate data sharing were associated with limited change in the outcome.ConclusionComprehensive PDMP use mandates were associated with meaningful reductions in opioid-related hospital events among privately insured and Medicare Advantage adults with prescription opioid use.
| S-EPMC7985821 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundEmergency departments increasingly use nonopioid analgesics to manage acute pain and minimize opioid-related harms. Urgent care centers are expanding to lower costs and provide efficient access to healthcare. General internists increasingly work in these acute care settings. Much is known about opioid prescribing in the primary care, inpatient, and emergency department setting. Little is known about opioid prescribing in the urgent care setting and associated outcomes.ObjectivesTo assess the association between in-clinic opioid administration and opioid receipt at clinic discharge and on progression to chronic opioid use among urgent care patients.DesignRetrospective cohort study.ParticipantsPatients, 20 years or older and not on opioid medications, who presented for care to an urgent care clinic within a safety-net healthcare system from June 1, 2016, to April 30, 2019.Main measuresWe examined the association between the in-clinic administration of oral or intravenous opioids and opioid receipt at clinic discharge. We also examined the association between in-clinic opioid administration and progression to chronic opioid use after six months.Key resultsThe study sample included 34,978 patients, of which 13.8% (n = 4842) received in-clinic opioids and 86.2% (n = 30,136) did not receive in-clinic opioids. After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance, and pain diagnosis, patients who received in-clinic opioids were more likely to receive opioids at discharge compared to patients who did not receive in-clinic opioids (aOR = 12.30, 95% CI 11.44-13.23). Among a selected cohort of patients, in-clinic opioid administration was associated with progression to chronic opioid use (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.66-2.71).ConclusionsIn-clinic opioid administration was strongly associated with opioid receipt at discharge and progression to chronic opioid use. Increased use of nonopioid analgesics in urgent care could likely reduce this association and limit opioids available for diversion, overdose, and death.
| S-EPMC7859130 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVE:We sought to determine the correlation between the probability of postoperative opioid prescription refills and the amount of opioid prescribed, hypothesizing that a greater initial prescription yields a lower probability of refill. BACKGROUND:Although current guidelines regarding opioid prescribing largely address chronic opioid use, little is known regarding best practices and postoperative care. METHODS:We analyzed Optum Insight claims data from 2013 to 2014 for opioid-naïve patients aged 18 to 64 years who underwent major or minor surgical procedures (N = 26,520). Our primary outcome was the occurrence of an opioid refill within 30 postoperative days. Our primary explanatory variable was the total oral morphine equivalents provided in the initial postoperative prescription. We used logistic regression to examine the probability of an additional refill by initial prescription strength, adjusting for patient factors. RESULTS:We observed that 8.67% of opioid-naïve patients refilled their prescriptions. Across procedures, the probability of a single postoperative refill did not change with an increase with initial oral morphine equivalents prescribed. Instead, patient factors were correlated with the probability of refill, including tobacco use [odds ratio (OR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-1.57], anxiety (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.15-1.47), mood disorders (OR 1.28. 95% CI 1.13-1.44), alcohol or substance abuse disorders (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.12-1.84), and arthritis (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.34). CONCLUSIONS:The probability of refilling prescription opioids after surgery was not correlated with initial prescription strength, suggesting surgeons could prescribe smaller prescriptions without influencing refill requests. Future research that examines the interplay between pain, substance abuse, and mental health could inform strategies to tailor opioid prescribing for patients.
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Project description:Prescribers are often confronted with the decision to escalate opioid doses to achieve adequate analgesia. Understanding the impact of dose escalation on pain intensity is warranted. Using a retrospective cohort study design, Veterans with chronic pain and chronic opioid therapy were identified. Opioid dose escalators (>20% increase in average morphine milligram equivalent daily dose) were compared with dose maintainers (±20% change in average morphine milligram equivalent daily dose) assessed over 2 consecutive 6-month windows. Pain intensity was measured by the Numeric Rating Scale. The primary analyses used linear repeated-measures models among a 1:1 matched sample of escalators and maintainers matched on propensity score and within ±180 days of the index date. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using adjusted linear repeated-measures models with and without incorporating stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting. There were 32,420 dose maintainers and 20,767 dose escalators identified with 19,358 (93%) matched pairs. Pain scores were persistently higher among dose escalators at each 90-day period after the index date (0-90 days after index date: dose escalators: 4.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.64-4.72 dose maintainers: 4.32, 95% CI: 4.28-4.36, P < 0.0001; 91-180 days after index date: dose escalators: 4.53, 95% CI: 4.49-4.57; dose maintainers: 4.25, 95% CI: 4.22-4.29, P < 0.0001) but were not different in the 90 days before the index date (dose escalators: 4.64, 95% CI: 4.61-4.68; dose maintainers: 4.59, 95% CI: 4.55-4.63, P = 0.0551). Sensitivity analyses provided similar results as the primary analyses. Opioid dose escalation among patients with chronic pain is not associated with improvements in Numeric Rating Scale pain scores.
| S-EPMC7510136 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Study questionIs warfarin use associated with an increased risk of serious hypoglycemic events among older people treated with the sulfonylureas glipizide and glimepiride?MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort analysis of pharmacy and medical claims from a 20% random sample of Medicare fee for service beneficiaries aged 65 years or older. It included 465,918 beneficiaries with diabetes who filled a prescription for glipizide or glimepiride between 2006 and 2011 (4,355,418 person quarters); 71,895 (15.4%) patients also filled a prescription for warfarin (416,479 person quarters with warfarin use). The main outcome measure was emergency department visit or hospital admission with a primary diagnosis of hypoglycemia in person quarters with concurrent fills of warfarin and glipizide/glimepiride compared with the rates in quarters with glipizide/glimepiride fills only, Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for individual characteristics. Secondary outcomes included fall related fracture and altered consciousness/mental status.Summary answer and limitationsIn quarters with glipizide/glimepiride use, hospital admissions or emergency department visits for hypoglycemia were more common in person quarters with concurrent warfarin use compared with quarters without warfarin use (294/416,479 v 1903/3,938,939; adjusted odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.42). The risk of hypoglycemia associated with concurrent use was higher among people using warfarin for the first time, as well as in those aged 65-74 years. Concurrent use of warfarin and glipizide/glimepiride was also associated with hospital admission or emergency department visit for fall related fractures (3919/416,479 v 20,759/3,938,939; adjusted odds ratio 1.47, 1.41 to 1.54) and altered consciousness/mental status (2490/416,479 v 14,414/3,938,939; adjusted odds ratio 1.22, 1.16 to 1.29). Unmeasured factors could be correlated with both warfarin use and serious hypoglycemic events, leading to confounding. The findings may not generalize beyond the elderly Medicare population.What this study addsA substantial positive association was seen between use of warfarin with glipizide/glimepiride and hospital admission/emergency department visits for hypoglycemia and related diagnoses, particularly in patients starting warfarin. The findings suggest the possibility of a significant drug interaction between these medications.Funding, competing interests, data sharingJAR and DPG receive support from the National Institute on Aging, the Commonwealth Fund, and the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California. ABJ receives support from the NIH Office of the Director. No additional data are available.
| S-EPMC4670968 | biostudies-literature
Project description:To define the amount of opioid analgesics prescribed and consumed after discharge after cesarean delivery.We conducted a survey at six academic medical centers in the United States from September 2014 to March 2016. Women who had undergone a cesarean delivery were contacted by phone 2 weeks after discharge and participated in a structured interview about the opioid prescription they received on discharge and their oral opioid intake while at home.A total of 720 women were enrolled; of these, 615 (85.4%) filled an opioid prescription. The median number of dispensed opioid tablets was 40 (interquartile range 30-40), the median number consumed was 20 (interquartile range 8-30), and leftover was 15 (interquartile range 3-26). Of those with leftover opioids, 95.3% had not disposed of the excess medication at the time of the interview. There was an association between a larger number of tablets dispensed and the number consumed independent of patient characteristics. The amount of opioids dispensed did not correlate with patient satisfaction, pain control, or the need to refill the opioid prescription.The amount of opioid prescribed after cesarean delivery generally exceeds the amount consumed by a significant margin, leading to substantial amounts of leftover opioid medication. Lower opioid prescription correlates with lower consumption without a concomitant increase in pain scores or satisfaction.
| S-EPMC5600205 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesTo develop a nomogram to predict the likelihood of vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) among women after a previous caesarean section (CS).DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingTwo secondary hospitals in Guangdong Province, China.ParticipantsInclusion criteria were as follows: pregnant women with singleton fetus, age ≥18 years, had a history of previous CS and scheduled for trial of labour after caesarean delivery (TOLAC). Patients with any of the following were excluded from the study: preterm labour (gestational age <37 weeks), two or more CSs, contradictions for vaginal birth, history of other uterine incision such as myomectomy, and incomplete medical records.Primary outcome measureThe primary outcome was VBAC, which was retrospectively abstracted from computerised medical records by clinical staff.ResultsOf the women who planned for TOLAC, 84.0% (1686/2006) had VBAC. Gestational age, history of vaginal delivery, estimated birth weight, body mass index, spontaneous onset of labour, cervix Bishop score and rupture of membranes were independently associated with VBAC. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in the prediction model was 0.77 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.81) in the training cohort. The validation set showed good discrimination with an AUC of 0.70 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.79).ConclusionsTOLAC may be a potential strategy for decreasing the CS rate in China. The validated nomogram to predict success of VBAC could be a potential tool for VBAC counselling.
| S-EPMC6538023 | biostudies-literature