Association Between Opioid Use Disorder and Healthcare Spending and Utilization in Emergency Surgical Patients: A Retrospective Analysis Using Commercial Claims.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the association between opioid use disorder (OUD) and healthcare spending and utilization in emergency surgical patients, and to evaluate whether the use of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) modifies this relationship.

Background

Surgical patients with OUD are susceptible to challenging postoperative pain management and relapse. Their healthcare spending and utilization estimates may justify perioperative system optimization efforts.

Methods

We identified 142,726 patients who underwent 1 of 14 surgeries between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. We then estimated the association between OUD and primary outcomes (spending during the surgical admission and in the 1-90 days postdischarge) and secondary outcomes (measures of healthcare utilization).

SUBMITTER: Dixit AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12185090 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature