Menopausal Symptoms and Higher Risk Opioid Prescribing in a National Sample of Women Veterans with Chronic Pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The greatest increases in long-term opioid use and opioid-related overdose mortality in recent years have been among women in midlife. Common menopausal symptoms broadly affect health and health care utilization in midlife, but their contribution to chronic pain management during this period is unknown.

Objective

To examine relationships between menopausal symptoms and long-term opioid prescription patterns among midlife women with chronic pain.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of national Veterans Health Administration medical and pharmacy records (2014-2015).

Participants

Women Veterans aged 45-64 with ≥ 1 outpatient visit and chronic pain diagnoses spanning ≥ 90 days.

Main measures

Long-term opioids (prescribed oral opioids for ≥ 90 days), h

SUBMITTER: Gibson CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6816610 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature