Colleen A Cuthbert1, Yuan Xu2, Shiying Kong2, Devon J Boyne2, Brenda R Hemmelgarn2,3, Winson Y Cheung4,5. 1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, PF 2294, 2500 University Drive N.W, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. cacuthbe@ucalgary.ca. 2. Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 4. Alberta Health Services Cancer Control, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 5. Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Concerns around chronic opioid use (COU), misuse, and harms have led to increased scrutiny of opioid prescribing in oncology. There is lack of research examining patient-level factors associated with COU. Our aim was to examine patient-level factors associated with COU in newly diagnosed cancer patients. METHODS: Population-based retrospective cohort study using administrative health data of patients in Alberta, Canada, diagnosed between February 2016 and October 2017. Adult cancer patients who completed a symptom survey within ± 60 days of diagnosis were included. Patients were divided into two groups: COU (defined as continuous opioid prescriptions for at least 90 days post-diagnosis) and non-chronic opioid use (NCOU). Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with COU. RESULTS: We included 694 patients (mean age 65 years; 51% female). Most had breast (20%), colorectal (13%), and lung (33%) cancers. Of the 14% with COU, 79% were opioid naïve at diagnosis. Those in the COU group were more often diagnosed with advanced cancer (66% versus 40%), had lung cancer (47%), and were opioid tolerant (> 90 days of continuous opioids within one-year pre-diagnosis). A total of 64% of COU versus 27% of NCOU had moderate to severe pain at diagnosis (p < 0.001). Irrespective of treatment type or stage, those with moderate to severe pain, were opioid tolerant at diagnosis, or had multiple prescribers were at greater risk for COU. CONCLUSIONS: Specific patient groups were at increased risk of COU and should be the focus of adaptive prescribing approaches to ensure that opioid use is appropriate.
PURPOSE: Concerns around chronic opioid use (COU), misuse, and harms have led to increased scrutiny of opioid prescribing in oncology. There is lack of research examining patient-level factors associated with COU. Our aim was to examine patient-level factors associated with COU in newly diagnosed cancerpatients. METHODS: Population-based retrospective cohort study using administrative health data of patients in Alberta, Canada, diagnosed between February 2016 and October 2017. Adult cancerpatients who completed a symptom survey within ± 60 days of diagnosis were included. Patients were divided into two groups: COU (defined as continuous opioid prescriptions for at least 90 days post-diagnosis) and non-chronic opioid use (NCOU). Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with COU. RESULTS: We included 694 patients (mean age 65 years; 51% female). Most had breast (20%), colorectal (13%), and lung (33%) cancers. Of the 14% with COU, 79% were opioid naïve at diagnosis. Those in the COU group were more often diagnosed with advanced cancer (66% versus 40%), had lung cancer (47%), and were opioid tolerant (> 90 days of continuous opioids within one-year pre-diagnosis). A total of 64% of COU versus 27% of NCOU had moderate to severe pain at diagnosis (p < 0.001). Irrespective of treatment type or stage, those with moderate to severe pain, were opioid tolerant at diagnosis, or had multiple prescribers were at greater risk for COU. CONCLUSIONS: Specific patient groups were at increased risk of COU and should be the focus of adaptive prescribing approaches to ensure that opioid use is appropriate.
Authors: Sondos Zayed; Cindy Lin; R Gabriel Boldt; Jinka Sathya; Varagur Venkatesan; Nancy Read; Lucas C Mendez; Dwight E Moulin; David A Palma Journal: Adv Radiat Oncol Date: 2020-10-26
Authors: Chris Delcher; Daniel R Harris; Changwe Park; Gail K Strickler; Jeffery Talbert; Patricia R Freeman Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 4.492