Prescribed opioid use is associated with increased all-purpose emergency department visits and hospitalizations in community-dwelling older adults in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The geriatric and health characteristics of older adults make them more susceptible to the effects of opioids than younger groups. The number of older adults in the United States visiting the emergency department (ED) and overusing opioids has increased in recent years. Research examining their relationship is, however, limited.

Methods

Using information from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we included older adults aged 65 and older. To investigate the relationship between prescribed opioid use and 12-months ED visits and hospitalizations, linear regression and logistic regression models were built while adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, employment, general health status, history of depression, and living arrangement.

Results

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SUBMITTER: Ge S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9792694 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature