Factors related to the use of opioids as early treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To examine factors related to the use of opioids as an early treatment option for knee OA patients METHODS: Using the Korean nationwide claim database, we selected knee OA patients between 2013 and 2015. Among them, patients without any claim of knee OA for 2 years before the index date were included as our study population. We analyzed their first claim for prescriptions, including tramadol and stronger opioids, at the index date of each patient. Using a multinomial model, we identified factors associated with the early use of tramadol and stronger opioids in knee OA patients. RESULTS:Among a total of 2,857,999 knee OA patients, 12.2% (n = 348,516) were treated with opioids as their first treatment. However, the prevalence of stronger opioid use was only 0.07% (n = 1972). Male s

SUBMITTER: Cho SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6827242 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature