Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patterns of Prescription Opioid Use: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Adults Without a Cancer Diagnosis Initiating Opioids Using Administrative Claims Data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to disruptions of healthcare delivery and may thus have impacted patterns of prescription opioid use, including risk factors for long-term use.

Objective

We aimed to describe changes in patterns of prescription opioid use due to the COVID-19 pandemic in community-dwelling adults without a cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Using administrative claims data of the province of Quebec, Canada, a random sample of adults (aged ≥18 years) was selected. These were members of the public drug plan without a cancer diagnosis who initiated a prescription opioid in the outpatient setting between 1 January, 2018 and 28 December, 2020. We assessed the daily dose of initial prescription opioids, the number of days' supply of

SUBMITTER: Castilloux AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9476403 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature