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Prescription opioid use before and after kidney transplant: Implications for posttransplant outcomes
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Prescription opioid use before and after kidney transplant: Implications for posttransplant outcomes

K L Lentine, N N Lam, A S Naik, D A Axelrod, Z Zhang, V R Dharnidharka, G P Hess, D L Segev, R Ouseph, H Randall, …
American journal of transplantation, Vol.18(12), pp.2987-2999
12/2018
DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14714
PMCID: PMC6119653
PMID: 29498196
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.14714View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Evolving literature suggests that the epidemic of prescription opioid use affects the transplant population. We examined a novel database wherein national U.S. transplant registry records were linked to a large pharmaceutical claims warehouse (2007-2015) to characterize prescription opioid use before and after kidney transplant, and associations (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR ) with death and graft loss. Among 75 430 eligible patients, 43.1% filled opioids in the year before transplant. Use was more common among recipients who were women, white, unemployed, publicly insured, and with longer pretransplant dialysis. Of those with the highest level of pretransplant opioid use, 60% continued high-level use posttransplant. Pretransplant opioid use had graded associations with one-year posttransplant outcomes; the highest-level use predicted 46% increased risk of death (aHR 1.46 ) and 28% increased risk of all-cause graft failure (aHR 1.28 ). Effects of high-level opioid use in the first year after transplant were stronger, predicting twice the risk of death (aHR 2.24 ) and 68% higher all-cause graft failure risk (aHR 1.68 ) over the subsequent year; increased risk persisted over five years. While associations may, in part, reflect underlying conditions or behaviors, opioid use history is relevant in assessing and providing care to transplant candidates and recipients.
United States Registries Kidney Failure, Chronic - mortality Opioid-Related Disorders - drug therapy Postoperative Complications - etiology Prognosis Follow-Up Studies Humans Middle Aged Male Postoperative Complications - mortality Young Adult Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects Graft Rejection - mortality Adult Female Retrospective Studies Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery Risk Factors Graft Rejection - etiology Graft Survival Delayed Graft Function Adolescent Kidney Transplantation - mortality Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects

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