Opioid tapering in older cancer survivors does not increase psychiatric or drug hospitalization rates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid tapering in the general population is linked to increases in hospitalizations or emergency department visits related to psychiatric or drug-related diagnoses. Cancer survivors represent a unique population with different opioid indications, prescription patterns, and more frequent follow-up care. This study sought to describe patterns of opioid tapering among older cancer survivors and to test the hypothesis of whether older cancer survivors face increased risks of adverse events with opioid tapering.

Methods

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Medicare-linked database, we identified 15 002 Medicare-beneficiary cancer survivors diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 prescribed opioids consistently for at least 6 months after their cancer diagnosis

SUBMITTER: Riviere P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10995846 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature