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Patient outcomes after opioid dose reduction among patients with chronic opioid therapy.

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Abstract

The net effects of prescribing initiatives that encourage dose reductions are uncertain. We examined whether rapid dose reduction after high-dose chronic opioid therapy (COT) associates with suicide, overdose, or other opioid-related adverse events. This retrospective cohort study included Oregon Medicaid recipients with high-dose COT. Claims were linked with prescription data from the prescription drug monitoring program and death data from vital statistics, 2014 to 2017. Participants were placed into 4 mutually exclusive dose trajectory groups after the high-dose COT period, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the effect of dose changes on patient outcomes in the following year. Of the 14,596 high-dose COT patients, 4191 (28.7%) abruptly discontinued opioid prescriptions, 1648 (11.3%) reduced opioid dose before discontinuing, 6480 (44.4%) had a dose reduction but never discontinued, and 2277 (15.6%) had a stable or increasing dose. Discontinuation, whether abrupt (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-9.25) or with dose reduction (aHR 4.47, 95% CI 1.68-11.88) significantly increased risk of suicide compared with those with stable or increasing dose. By contrast, discontinuation or dose reduction reduced the risk of overdose compared with those with a stable or increasing dose (aHR 0.36-0.62, 95% CI 0.20-0.94). Patients with an abrupt discontinuation were more likely to overdose on heroin (vs. prescription opioids) than patients in other groups (P < 0.0001). Our study suggests that patients on COT require careful risk assessment and supportive interventions when considering opioid discontinuation or continuation at a high dose.

SUBMITTER: Hallvik SE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8494834 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Patient outcomes after opioid dose reduction among patients with chronic opioid therapy.

Hallvik Sara E SE El Ibrahimi Sanae S Johnston Kirbee K Geddes Jonah J Leichtling Gillian G Korthuis P Todd PT Hartung Daniel M DM

Pain 20220101 1

<h4>Abstract</h4>The net effects of prescribing initiatives that encourage dose reductions are uncertain. We examined whether rapid dose reduction after high-dose chronic opioid therapy (COT) associates with suicide, overdose, or other opioid-related adverse events. This retrospective cohort study included Oregon Medicaid recipients with high-dose COT. Claims were linked with prescription data from the prescription drug monitoring program and death data from vital statistics, 2014 to 2017. Parti ...[more]

PMID: 33863865

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Project description:ImportanceRapid reduction or discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy may increase risk of opioid overdose or opioid use disorder (OUD). Current guidelines for chronic pain management caution against rapid dose reduction but are based on limited evidence.ObjectiveTo characterize the association between rapid reduction or abrupt discontinuation of opioid therapy (vs maintained or gradual reduction) and incidence of opioid overdose and OUD among patients prescribed high-dose, long-term opioid therapy (HDLTOT).Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients aged 18 to 64 years who were prescribed HDLTOT (≥90 daily morphine milligram equivalents for ≥90% of 90 days) from January 2006 to September 2018, with follow-up up to 4 years after cohort entry. Claims data were drawn from a large private health insurer in North Carolina and analyzed from March 1, 2006, to September 30, 2018.ExposuresTime-varying exposure of rapid dose reduction or discontinuation (>10% dose reduction/week) vs maintenance, increase, or gradual reduction or discontinuation.Main outcomes and measuresThe main outcome was incident opioid overdose (fatal or nonfatal) or diagnosed OUD. Inverse probability-weighted cumulative incidence of outcomes were estimated using the cumulative incidence function and hazard ratios (HRs) using marginal structural Fine-Gray models as a function of rapid dose tapering or discontinuation (vs gradual reduction or discontinuation or maintained or increased), accounting for competing risks.ResultsA total of 19 443 patients (median [IQR] age, 49 [41-55] years; 10 073 [51.8%] men) who received HDLTOT were identified. Rapid reduction or discontinuation was associated with higher risk of fatal and nonfatal overdoses compared with gradual reduction after the first year (year 1: HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.94-2.18; years 2-4: HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.31-2.90). There was no association between rapid reduction or discontinuation and diagnosed OUD through 2 years of follow-up; however, the hazard of incident OUD among patients exposed to rapid tapering or discontinuation was greater 25 to 48 months after the start of follow-up (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.01-1.63).Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study, rapid dose reduction or discontinuation was associated with increased risk of opioid overdose and OUD during long-term follow-up. These findings reinforce prior concerns about safety of rapid dose reductions for patients receiving HDLTOT and highlight the need for caution when reducing opioid doses.

Project description:ContextOpioid related deaths are at epidemic levels in many developed nations globally. Concerns about the contribution of prescribed opioids, and particularly high-dose opioids, continue to mount as do initiatives to reduce prescribing. Evidence around opioid tapering, which can be challenging and potentially hazardous, is not well developed. A recent national guideline has recognized this and recommended referral to multidisciplinary care for challenging cases of opioid tapering. However, multidisciplinary care for opioid tapering is not well understood or defined.ObjectiveIdentify the existing literature on any multidisciplinary care programs that evaluate impact on opioid use, synthesize how these programs work and clarify whom they benefit.Study designSystematic rapid realist review.DatasetBibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library), grey literature, reference hand search and formal expert consultation.Results95 studies were identified. 75% of the programs were from the United States and the majority (n = 62) were published after 2000. A minority (n = 23) of programs reported on >12 month opioid use outcomes. There were three necessary but insufficient mechanisms common to all programs: pain relief, behavior change and active medication management. Programs that did not include a combination of all three mechanisms did not result in opioid dose reductions. A concerning 20-40% of subjects resumed opioid use within one year of program completion.ConclusionsProviding alternative analgesia is insufficient for reducing opioid doses. Even high quality primary care multidisciplinary care programs do not reduce prescribed opioid use unless there is active medication management accomplished by changing the primary opioid prescriber. Rates of return to use of opioids from these programs are very concerning in the current context of a highly potent and lethal street drug supply. This contextual factor may be powerful enough to undermine the modest benefits of opioid dose reduction via multidisciplinary care.

Project description:BackgroundMany clinicians are reevaluating the use of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain in response to the opioid crisis and calls from organizations including the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to limit prescribing of high-dose opioids. However, this practice change is occurring largely in the absence of data regarding patient outcomes. A 2017 systematic review found inconclusive evidence on the impact of LTOT dose reduction and discontinuation on pain severity and function, quality of life, withdrawal symptoms, substance abuse, and adverse effects. This rapid systematic review provides an updated evidence synthesis of patient outcomes following LTOT dose reduction including serious harms such as overdose and suicide.MethodsWe systematically searched numerous bibliographic databases from January 2017 (the end search date of the 2017 systematic review) through May 2020. One reviewer used prespecified criteria to assess articles for inclusion, evaluate study quality, abstract data, and grade strength of evidence, with a second reviewer checking.ResultsWe included 49 studies-1 systematic review, 34 studies included in that systematic review, and 14 new studies. We prioritized evidence synthesis of 19 studies with the most applicability to the Veteran population and outpatient settings. Among these studies, improvements in mean pain scores were common among patients tapering opioids while participating in intensive multimodal pain interventions and mostly unchanged with less intensive or nonspecific co-interventions. Our confidence in these findings is low due to methodological limitations of the studies. Observational data suggests that serious harms such as opioid overdose and suicidal ideation can occur following opioid dose reduction or discontinuation, but the incidence of these harms at the population level is unknown.DiscussionThe net balance of benefits and harms of LTOT dose reduction for patients with chronic pain is unclear. Clinicians should closely monitor patients during the tapering process given the potential for harm.

Project description:BackgroundDyspnea that is refractory to conventional treatments affects up to 50% of patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although professional societies recommend opioids in this setting, evidence supporting their use over months is limited. We conducted a multicentre mixed-methods study to understand patients' experiences when opioids are added to optimized conventional treatments for advanced COPD.MethodsA total of 44 patients (median age 74, range 51-89 years) agreed to participate in this 6-month study. After baseline assessments, immediate-release morphine sulfate syrup (initially 0.5 mg twice daily) was slowly titrated upward based on weekly assessments of symptoms. We conducted semistructured interviews and collected contemporaneous measures of health-related quality of life, severity of dyspnea, anxiety, depression, global ratings of opioid "helpfulness" and adverse effects before, at 2 months and at 4-6 months after opioids were started.ResultsOf the 44 patients, 32 (73%) completed the trial; 27 (90%) of 30 patients reported the opioid treatment as very (43%) or somewhat (47%) helpful. Three main themes emerged from the patients' overall positive experiences: small gains have big impact; realign hopes with reality; and "try it." Significant improvements were observed in median (interquartile range) scores between baseline and 4-6 months' assessment for health-related quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire: 3.5 [2.8-4.0] v. 4.2 [3.6-4.8]; and Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire-Dyspnea domain: 2.8 [2.3-3.6] v. 3.9 [2.8-4.5]) and decreases in severity of dyspnea (numerical rating scale: 7.0 [5.0-8.0] v. 5.0 [4.0-6.0]). Adverse effects were minimal for most patients.InterpretationOpioids were a helpful and acceptable intervention for refractory dyspnea in patients with advanced COPD. Many of the patients experienced sustained benefits over months, which supports recent recommendations to consider opioids in this setting.Trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov, no. NCT00982891.

Project description:ImportanceElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) practice during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated restriction of bag-valve mask (BVM) ventilation to minimize disease transmission through aerosolization. To reduce BVM use, many sites decreased doses of anesthesia agents, but the associations of such dose reduction with clinical and tolerability outcomes are unknown.ObjectivesTo investigate the association of COVID-19 pandemic modifications in ECT, including reduction in anesthetic dosage and BVM use, with the rates of clinical complications and clinical outcomes.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study included data from patients receiving an index course of ECT for any clinical indication treated with methohexital and succinylcholine between March 16, 2017, and March 15, 2023, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Data analysis occurred from February to December 2024.ExposureParticipants were split into 2 cohorts: pre-COVID-19 (treated between March 2017 and March 2020) and COVID-19 (treated between June 2020 and March 2023).Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcomes were BVM use and rates of complications (specifically, aspiration, bradycardia, insufficient initial sedation dosage, postictal agitation [PIA], residual weakness, and prolonged seizures). Secondary outcomes were rates of response and cognitive impairment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations of COVID-19 pandemic modifications with outcomes.ResultsA total of 616 individuals (median [IQR] age, 45.0 [31.0-59.0] years; 342 female [55.5%]) were included in the analysis, with 362 in the pre-COVID-19 group and 254 in the COVID-19 group. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar. The COVID-19 group received lower median (IQR) methohexital dosages (0.82 [0.72-0.96] mg/kg vs 0.87 [0.78-1.00] mg/kg; P = .007) and succinylcholine (0.33 [0.27-0.39] mg/kg vs 0.53 [0.45-0.59] mg/kg; P < .001) than the pre-COVID-19 group. The COVID-19 group had higher odds of insufficient initial sedation dosage (odds ratio, 2.16, 95% CI, 1.09-4.38) and PIA (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.76-4.56), with no difference for other complications. BVM use was reduced from standard use to 13.8% (35 individuals) during COVID-19. Groups were similar in the rates of response (pre-COVID-19, 246 individuals [68.0%]; COVID-19, 181 individuals [71.3%]; P = .38) and cognitive impairment (pre-COVID-19, 75 individuals [20.7%]; COVID-19, 49 individuals [19.3%]; P = .66).Conclusions and relevanceIn this retrospective cohort study, reduction of anesthesia agents was associated with reduced BVM use, with similar clinical outcomes and tolerability other than increased rates of insufficient initial sedation dosage and PIA, suggesting that management of PIA with this anesthesia dosing strategy warrants further investigation.

Project description:BackgroundThere is inadequate evidence of long-term benefit from opioid medications for chronic pain and substantial evidence of potential harms. For patients, dose reduction may be beneficial when implemented voluntarily and supported by a multidisciplinary team but experts have advised against involuntary opioid reduction.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of self-reported involuntary opioid reduction and to examine whether involuntary opioid reduction is associated with changes in pain severity.DesignProspective observational cohort study.ParticipantsPrimary care patients treated with long-term opioid therapy in the Veterans Health Administration (N = 290).Main measuresThe primary exposure was self-reported past year involuntary opioid reduction. The primary outcome was the three-item PEG scale, which measures past-week average pain intensity and interference with enjoyment of life and general activity.Key resultsPast year opioid reduction or discontinuation was reported by 63% (184/290). Similar numbers reported involuntary (88/290) and voluntary (96/290) opioid reduction. At baseline, there were no significant differences in pain severity between the groups (mean PEG, 7.08 vs. 6.73 vs. 7.07 for past year involuntary opioid reduction, past year voluntary opioid reduction, and no past year opioid reduction, respectively; P = 0.32). For the primary outcome of change in pain severity from baseline to 18 months, there were no significant differences between groups (mean PEG change, - 0.05 vs. - 0.44 vs. - 0.23 for past year involuntary opioid reduction, past year voluntary opioid reduction, and no past year opioid reduction, respectively; P = 0.28).ConclusionsSelf-reported past year involuntary opioid reduction was common among a national sample of veterans treated with long-term opioid therapy. Opioid dose reduction, whether involuntary or voluntary, was not associated with change in pain severity. Future studies should examine involuntary opioid reduction in different populations and trends over time and explore further patient- and provider-level factors that may impact patient experience and outcomes during opioid reduction.

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Patient outcomes after opioid dose reduction among patients with chronic opioid therapy.

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Publications

Patient outcomes after opioid dose reduction among patients with chronic opioid therapy.

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