Association Between Opioid Dose Variability and Opioid Overdose Among Adults Prescribed Long-term Opioid Therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Attempts to discontinue opioid therapy to reduce the risk of overdose and adhere to prescribing guidelines may lead patients to be exposed to variability in opioid dosing. Such dose variability may increase the risk of opioid overdose even if therapy discontinuation is associated with a reduction in risk.

Objective

To examine the association between opioid dose variability and opioid overdose.

Design, setting, and participants

A nested case-control study was conducted in a large Colorado integrated health plan and delivery system from January 1, 2006, through June 30, 2018. Cohort members were individuals prescribed long-term opioid therapy.

Exposures

Dose variability was defined as the SD of the milligrams of morphine equivalents across each patient

SUBMITTER: Glanz JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6481879 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature