Opioid and analgesic utilization in Ireland in 2000 and 2015: A repeated cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: In recent decades, opioid use has increased internationally and is a major public health concern. This study aims to characterize changes in opioid and other analgesic prescribing in Ireland over a 15-year period (2000-2015). This is a repeated cross-sectional study of administrative pharmacy claims data in 2000 and 2015. Individuals of all ages in Ireland's Eastern Health Board region who were eligible for the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme were included. This scheme covers 40% of the population, mostly those on lower incomes and older people. The primary outcome was dispensing of opioids, both prevalence of any use and rate per 1000 GMS eligible population (standardized to the 2015 population). Logistic regression was used to assess odds of opioid dispensing in 2015 versus 2000, c

SUBMITTER: Moriarty F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8675152 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature