Journal article
Are We Still Prescribing Opioids for Osteoarthritis?
The Journal of arthroplasty, Vol.32(12), pp.3578-3582.e1
12/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2017.07.030
PMID: 28887019
Abstract
The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. These medications continue to be used to manage pain associated with osteoarthritis, despite mounting evidence questioning the benefits. The rate at which opioids are prescribed for osteoarthritis is largely unknown. We sought to identify rates of opioid prescriptions for osteoarthritis and identify factors associated with higher rates of prescribing.
We queried the Humana, Inc. administrative claims database from 2007 to 2014. Patients with osteoarthritis were identified using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision codes and classified as having hip, knee, or any joint osteoarthritis. Claims data were reviewed to identify opioid prescriptions associated with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Rates of prescribing were trended over time and stratified by sex, age, and geographic region.
From 2007 to 2014, 17.0% of patients with any joint osteoarthritis, 13.4% of patients with hip osteoarthritis, and 15.9% with knee osteoarthritis were prescribed an opioid for their condition. Yearly rates of prescription were fairly stable over this period. Patients in the South had the highest odds of opioid prescription, while those in the Northeast had the lowest. Patients ≤49 years old were more likely to receive a prescription than those ≥50 years old.
This study provides important epidemiologic data about the use of opioids for osteoarthritis. Despite increasing evidence calling proposed benefits into question and increasing awareness of risks of opioids, prescribing rates remained stable between 2007 and 2014. This provides important baseline data as we work to combat excessive and inappropriate opioid use within the United States.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Are We Still Prescribing Opioids for Osteoarthritis?
- Creators
- David E DeMik - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaNicholas A Bedard - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaS Blake Dowdle - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaRobert A Burnett - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaMichael A McHugh - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaJohn J Callaghan - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of arthroplasty, Vol.32(12), pp.3578-3582.e1
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.arth.2017.07.030
- PMID
- 28887019
- ISSN
- 0883-5403
- eISSN
- 1532-8406
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2017
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
- Record Identifier
- 9984040351302771
Metrics
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