Effect of Early Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Initiation on Chronic Opioid Use in Individuals With Axial Spondyloarthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Opioid use remains common despite effective therapies for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We assessed whether early tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) use is associated with reduced risk of chronic opioid use.

Methods

Using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database containing health insurance billing claims data, we conducted a time-stratified, propensity score (PS)-matched cohort study of adults aged 18 to 65 years with axSpA. Early TNFi exposure was defined using pharmacy and medical claims as any incident TNFi use within 6 months of axSpA diagnosis. We used PSs to match early TNFi users 1:1 to those not starting a TNFi within 6 months in 1-year cohort accrual blocks. We compared the risk of chronic opioid use (≥90 days' prescription) among early TNFi user

SUBMITTER: Petrow E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12614477 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature