Association between Initial Opioid Prescription and Patient Pain with Continued Opioid Use among Opioid-Naive Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery in a Large American Health System.

ABSTRACT: There is growing concern about the over-prescription of opioids and the risks of long-term use. This study examined the relationship between initial need (pre-operative, post-operative, and discharge pain) and dosage of opioids in the first prescription after surgery with continued opioid use through opioid refills over 12 months, while considering patient-level characteristics. A total of 9262 opioid-naïve patients underwent elective surgery, 7219 of whom were prescribed opioids following surgery. The results showed that 17% of patients received at least one opioid refill within one year post-surgery. Higher initial opioid doses, measured in morphine milligram equivalent (MME), were associated with a greater likelihood of continued use. Patients receiving a dose greater than 90 MME were 1

SUBMITTER: Babatunde A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10218665 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature