Geographic Variation in the Initiation of Commonly Used Opioids and Dosage Strength in United States Nursing Homes.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To examine and quantify geographic variation in the initiation of commonly used opioids and prescribed dosage strength among older US nursing home residents. METHODS:We merged 2011 Minimum Data Set 3.0 to Medicare claims and facility characteristics data to conduct a cross-sectional study among long-stay nursing home residents who initiated short-acting opioids commonly used in nursing homes (oxycodone, hydrocodone, or tramadol). We examined geographic variation in specific opioids initiated and potentially inappropriate doses (≥50 mg oral morphine equivalent/d) across hospital referral regions (HRRs). Multilevel logistic models quantified the proportional change in between-HRR variation and associations between commonly initiated opioids and inappropriate doses after adjusting

SUBMITTER: Hunnicutt JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6136945 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature