Chronic opioid use in women following hysterectomy: Patterns and predictors

Effect of Best Practice Alert (BPA) on Post-Discharge Opioid Prescribing After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy: A Quality Improvement Study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe the effectiveness of an electronic health record best practice alert (BPA) in decreasing gynecologic post-discharge opioid prescribing following benign minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Patients and Methods

The BPA triggered for opioid orders >15 tablets. Prescribers' options included (1) decrease to 15 ≤ tablets; (2) remove the order/utilize a defaulted order set; or (3) override the alert.

Results

332 patients were included. The BPA triggered 29 times. The following actions were taken among 16 patients for whom the BPA triggered: "override the alert" (n=13); "cancel the alert" (n=2); and 'remove the opioid order set' (n=1). 12/16 patients had discharge prescriptions: one patient received 20 tablets; two received 10 tablets; and nine received 15 tablets. Top reasons for over prescribing included concerns for pain control and lack of alternatives.

Conclusion

Implementing a post-discharge opioid prescribing BPA aligned opioid prescribing following benign minimally invasive hysterectomy with guideline recommendations.

Perioperative opioid dispensing and persistent use after benign hysterectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis was conducted to (1) assess the quantity and dose of perioperatively dispensed opioids for benign hysterectomy by procedure route and (2) identify the predictors of persistent opioid use after the procedure.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched from study inception to 25 March 2022.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies reporting data on opioid dispensing among patients undergoing benign hysterectomy were considered eligible. The primary outcome was the dosage of opioids dispensed perioperatively (from 30 preoperative days to 21 postoperative days). The secondary outcome was the predictors of persistent opioid use after benign hysterectomy (from 3 months to 3 years postoperatively). Total opioid dispensing was measured in morphine milligram equivalents units.

METHODS

The random-effects model was used to pool the mean differences or odds ratios and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies presenting data on 377,569 women undergoing benign hysterectomy were included. Of these women, 83% (95% confidence interval, 81-84) were dispensed opioids during the perioperative period. The average amount of perioperatively dispensed opioids was 143.5 morphine milligram equivalents (95% confidence interval, 40-247). Women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy were dispensed a significantly lower amount of opioids than those undergoing laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomies. The overall rate of persistent opioid use after benign hysterectomy was 5% (95% confidence interval, 2-8). Younger patient age (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.63), smoking history (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.67-2.10), alcohol use (odds ratio, 3.16; 95% confidence interval, 2.34-4.27), back pain (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.05), and fibromyalgia (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-1.83) were significantly associated with a higher risk of persistent opioid use after benign hysterectomy. However, there was no significant effect of hysterectomy route and operative complexity on persistent opioid use postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative opioid dispensing was significantly dependent on the route of hysterectomy, with the lowest dispensed morphine milligram equivalents of opioids for vaginal hysterectomy and the highest for abdominal hysterectomy. Nevertheless, hysterectomy route did not significantly predict persistent opioid use postoperatively, whereas younger age, smoking, alcohol use, back pain, and fibromyalgia were significantly associated with persistent opioid use.

Prescription Opioid Use for Acute Pain and Persistent Opioid Use After Gynecologic Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the amount of opioid medication used by patients and the prevalence of persistent opioid use after discharge for gynecologic surgery for benign indications.

DATA SOURCES

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to October 2020.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

Studies with data on gynecologic surgical procedures for benign indications and the amount of outpatient opioids consumed, or the incidence of either persistent opioid use or opioid-use disorder postsurgery were included. Two reviewers independently screened citations and extracted data from eligible studies.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Thirty-six studies (37 articles) met inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from 35 studies; 23 studies included data on opioids consumed after hospital discharge, and 12 studies included data on persistent opioid use after gynecologic surgery. Average morphine milligram equivalents (MME) used in the 14 days after discharge were 54.0 (95% CI 39.9-68.0, seven tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) across all gynecologic surgery types, 35.0 (95% CI 0-75.12, 4.5 tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) after a vaginal hysterectomy, 59.5 (95% CI 44.4-74.6, eight tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) after laparoscopic hysterectomy, and 108.1 (95% CI 80.5-135.8, 14.5 tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) after abdominal hysterectomy. Patients used 22.4 MME (95% CI 12.4-32.3, three tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) within 24 hours of discharge after laparoscopic procedures without hysterectomy and 79.8 MME (95% CI 37.1-122.6, 10.5 tablets of 5-mg oxycodone) from discharge to 7 or 14 days postdischarge after surgery for prolapse. Persistent opioid use occurred in about 4.4% of patients after gynecologic surgery, but this outcome had high heterogeneity due to variation in populations and definitions of the outcome.

CONCLUSION

On average, patients use the equivalent of 15 or fewer 5-mg oxycodone tablets (or equivalent) in the 2 weeks after discharge after major gynecologic surgery for benign indications. Persistent opioid use occurred in 4.4% of patients who underwent gynecologic surgery for benign indications. Our findings could help surgeons minimize overprescribing and reduce medication diversion or misuse.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42020146120.

The past, present, and future of opioid prescribing: perioperative opioid use in gynecologic oncology patients after laparotomy at a single institution from 2012 to 2021

Objective

To describe the evolution of perioperative opioid management in gynecologic oncology patients after open surgeries and determine current opioid over-prescription rates.

Methods

Part one of this two-part study was a retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent laparotomy by a gynecologic oncologist from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2021, comparing changes in clinical characteristics, pain management and discharge opioid prescription sizes between fiscal year 2012 (FY2012) and 2020 (FY2020). In part two, we prospectively surveyed patients after laparotomy in 2021 to determine opioid use after hospital discharge.

Results

1187 patients were included in the chart review. Demographic and surgical characteristics remained stable from FY2012 to FY2020 with differences notable for increased rates of interval cytoreductive surgeries for advanced ovarian cancer and decreased rates of full lymph node dissection. Median inpatient opioid use decreased by 62 % from FY2012 to FY2020. Median discharge opioid prescription size was 675 oral morphine equivalents (OME) per patient in FY2012 and decreased by 77.7 % to 150 OME in FY2020. Of 95 surveyed patients in 2021, median self-reported opioid use after discharge was 22.5 OME. Patients had an excess of opioids equivalent to 1331 doses of 5-milligram oxycodone tablets per 100 patients.

Conclusion

Inpatient opioid use in our gynecologic oncology open surgical patients and post-discharge opioid prescription size significantly decreased over the last decade. Despite this progress, our current prescribing patterns continue to significantly overestimate patients' actual opioid use after hospital discharge. Individualized point of care tools are needed to determine an appropriate opioid prescription size.

Accuracy and validity of reported opioid prescription days' supply

PURPOSE

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the percentage of opioid analgesic (OA) prescriptions dispensed by Kentucky independent pharmacies with correctly entered days' supply in the state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) system in 2019.

METHODS

Using a two-stage cluster design, pharmacies were sampled with probabilities proportional to the volume of dispensed OAs; 100 random OA prescriptions were sampled from PDMP records submitted by each pharmacy. Following recruitment, demographic information and hard-copy prescription data for sampled records were abstracted on-site. Days' supply was independently calculated by two pharmacists using a standard formula with disagreements adjudicated blindly by a third pharmacist. Adjudicated days' supply was compared with that submitted to the PDMP and classified as accurate/inaccurate. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between accuracy and prescription/practice-related factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1281 OA prescriptions were reviewed at 13 participating pharmacies. Accuracy of reported OA days' supply was 89.85%, (95% CI: 86.90, 92.80). Factors associated with accuracy were presence of special instructions from the prescriber (OR 3.13 [95% CI: 1.43, 6.82]), presence of 'as-needed' directions (OR 0.29 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.47]), and billing to a third-party payer (OR 1.43 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.02]).

CONCLUSIONS

Accuracy of OA days' supply reported to the state PDMP was found to be moderately high. Certain prescription-related factors influence accuracy and should be accounted for in future studies. Patterns, including opioid 'split-billing' were identified and may impact validity of PDMP and administrative claims studies.

Comparing Continuous and Binary Group-based Trajectory Modeling Using Statin Medication Adherence Data

BACKGROUND

Of 58 medication adherence group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) published studies, 74% used binary and 26% used continuous GBTM. Few studies provided a rationale for this choice. No medication adherence studies have compared continuous and binary GBTM.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess whether continuous versus binary GBTM: (1) impacts adherence trajectory shapes; and (2) results in the differential classification of patients into adherence groups.

METHODS

Patients were prevalent statin users with myocardial infarction hospitalization, 66+ years old, and continuously enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare. Statin medication adherence was measured 6 months prehospitalization using administrative claims. Final GBTM specifications beyond default settings were selected using a previously defined standardized procedure and applied separately to continuous and binary (proportion of days covered ≥0.80) medication adherence measures. Assignment to adherence groups was compared between continuous and binary models using percent agreement of patient classification and the κ coefficient.

RESULTS

Among 113,296 prevalent statin users, 4 adherence groups were identified in both models. Three groups were consistent: persistently adherent, progressively nonadherent, and persistently nonadherent. The fourth continuous group was moderately adherent (progressively adherent in the binary model). When comparing patient assignment into adherence groups between continuous and binary trajectory models, only 78.4% of patients were categorized into comparable groups (κ=0.641; 95% confidence interval: 0.638-0.645). The agreement was highest in the persistently adherent group (∼94%).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous and binary trajectory models are conceptually different measures of medication adherence. The choice between these approaches should be guided by study objectives and the role of medication adherence within the study-exposure, outcome, or confounder.

Evaluation of Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Use Following Hysterectomy for Benign Indication: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate surgeon opioid prescribing patterns for patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign indication, as well as patient use of postoperative medications and satisfaction with postoperative pain management.

METHODS

Patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications at Kingston Health Sciences Centre were invited to participate in a telephone survey 2 weeks post-surgery to review their analgesia use and pain management. Patient demographics, medical history, intraoperative surgical details, and postoperative prescriptions were gathered through patient record review. Opioid prescribing and utilization patterns were assessed, as was satisfaction with postoperative pain management.

RESULTS

Of 124 eligible patients 110 (89%) completed the telephone survey, a mean 15.9 ± 2.3 days after surgery. The mean age of participants was 51.6 ± 11.9 years. Most surgeries (84.5%) were minimally invasive, and 45.5% of patients were discharged within 24 hours of surgery. An opioid prescription was given to 71.8% of participants, and 52.7% used at least 1 dose of opioid medication after discharge. Most participants described very good or adequate postoperative pain management (88.2%). Satisfaction with postoperative pain control was not associated with receipt of an opioid prescription (P = 0.89). A greater proportion of those who used 1 or more doses of opioids versus none indicated poor or inadequate pain management (19.0% vs. 4.1%; P = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

Many patients do not use postoperative opioid analgesia following hospital discharge after hysterectomy, without experiencing poor pain management. Surgeons should assess each individual and tailor the analgesia plan as necessary, optimizing non-opioid options.