Risk factors for serious prescription opioid-related toxicity or overdose among veterans health administration patients

Barbara Zedler, Lin Xie, Li Wang, Andrew Joyce, Catherine Vick, Furaha Kariburyo, Pradeep Rajan, Onur Baser, Lenn Murrelle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

192 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Prescription opioid use and deaths related to serious toxicity, including overdose, have increased dramatically in the United States since 1999. However, factors associated with serious opioid-related respiratory or central nervous system (CNS) depression or overdose in medical users are not well characterized. The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with serious toxicity in medical users of prescription opioids. Design: Retrospective, nested, case-control analysis of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical, pharmacy, and health care resource utilization administrative data. Subjects: Patients dispensed an opioid by VHA between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2012 (N=8,987). Methods: Cases (N=817) experienced life-threatening opioid-related respiratory/CNS depression or overdose. Ten controls were randomly assigned to each case (N=8,170). Logistic regression was used to examine associations with the outcome. Results: The strongest associations were maximum prescribed daily morphine equivalent dose (MED)≥100mg (odds ratio [OR]=4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-6.5), history of opioid dependence (OR=3.9, 95% CI, 2.6-5.8), and hospitalization during the 6 months before the serious toxicity or overdose event (OR=2.9, 95% CI, 2.3-3.6). Liver disease, extended-release or long-acting opioids, and daily MED of 20mg or more were also significantly associated. Conclusions: Substantial risk for serious opioid-related toxicity and overdose exists at even relatively low maximum prescribed daily MED, especially in patients already vulnerable due to underlying demographic factors, comorbid conditions, and concomitant use of CNS depressant medications or substances. Screening patients for risk, providing education, and coprescribing naloxone for those at elevated risk may be effective at reducing serious opioid-related respiratory/CNS depression and overdose in medical users of prescription opioids.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1911-1929
Number of pages19
JournalPain Medicine (United States)
Volume15
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Opioid
  • Overdose
  • Predictors
  • Prescription
  • Risk
  • Toxicity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Risk factors for serious prescription opioid-related toxicity or overdose among veterans health administration patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this