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Simha S, Ahmed Y, Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid overdose and other adverse events in the USA and Canada: a systematic review. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024; 49:361-362. [PMID: 36427903 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2022-104169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siddartha Simha
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yusuf Ahmed
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Surgery, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Surgery, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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2
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Bicket MC, Wick EC, Wu CL. Beyond the block: evaluation of epidurals on length of stay. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2024-105456. [PMID: 38697777 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN), Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Wick
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christopher L Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Chua KP, Bicket MC, Bohnert ASB, Conti RM, Lagisetty P, Nguyen TD. Buprenorphine Dispensing after Elimination of the Waiver Requirement. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1530-1532. [PMID: 38657250 DOI: 10.1056/nejmc2312906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kao-Ping Chua
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Rena M Conti
- Boston University Questrom School of Business, Boston, MA
| | | | - Thuy D Nguyen
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
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Sharif L, Zubieta CS, Arora A, Gunaseelan V, Waljee J, Bicket MC, Englesbe M, Brummett CM. Medicaid Insurance Predicts Increased Postoperative Care Encounters Among Patients on Long-Term Opioid Therapy. Ann Surg 2024:00000658-990000000-00811. [PMID: 38482682 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000006262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the association between insurance type and postoperative unplanned care encounters among patients on long-term opioid therapy prior to surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Preoperative long-term opioid therapy is associated with unique risks and poorer outcomes following surgery. To date, the extent to which insurance coverage influences postoperative outcomes in this population remains unclear. METHODS Among individuals receiving a supply of greater than 120 total days or at least 10 opioid prescriptions in the year prior to surgery, we examined patients with Medicaid or private insurance who underwent abdominopelvic surgery from 2017 to 2021 across 70 hospitals in the state of Michigan. The primary outcome was unplanned care encounters, defined as an emergency department visit or unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge from surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of acute care events with insurance type as the primary covariate of interest. RESULTS Among 1212 patients on long-term opioid therapy prior to surgery, 45.6% (n = 553) had Medicaid insurance. Overall, one in eight (n=151) patients met criteria for a postoperative unplanned care encounter within 30 days. The probability of an unplanned encounter was 4.5 percentage points higher among patients with Medicaid insurance compared to private insurance (95% CI: 0.5%, 8.4%). CONCLUSIONS Among patients on preoperative long-term opioid therapy, unplanned care encounters were higher among patients with Medicaid when compared to private insurance. While this is likely multifactorial, differences by insurance status may point to disparities in underlying social determinants of health and suggest the need for postoperative care pathways that address these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limi Sharif
- University of Michigan Medical School
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Frangakis SG, Kavalakatt B, Gunaseelan V, Lai Y, Waljee J, Englesbe M, Brummett CM, Bicket MC. The Association of Preoperative Opioid Use with Post-Discharge Outcomes: A Cohort Study of the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Ann Surg 2024:00000658-990000000-00808. [PMID: 38482687 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000006265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association of prescription opioid fills over the year prior to surgery with postoperative outcomes. BACKGROUND Nearly one third of patients report opioid use in the year preceding surgery, yet an understanding of how opioid exposure influences patient-reported outcomes after surgery remains incomplete. Therefore, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that preoperative opioid exposure may impede recovery in the postoperative period. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used a statewide clinical registry from 70 hospitals linked to opioid fulfillment data from the state's prescription drug monitoring program to categorize patients' preoperative opioid exposure as none (naïve), minimal, intermittent, or chronic. Outcomes were patient-reported pain intensity (primary), as well as 30-day clinical and patient-reported outcomes (secondary). RESULTS Compared to opioid-naïve patients, opioid exposure was associated with higher reported pain scores at 30 days after surgery. Predicted probabilities was higher among the opioid exposed versus naive group for reporting moderate pain (43.5% [95% CI 42.6 - 44.4%] vs 39.3% [95% CI 38.5 - 40.1%]) and severe pain (13.% [95% CI 12.5 - 14.0%] vs 10.0% [95% CI 9.5 - 10.5%]), and increasing probability was associated increased opioid exposure for both outcomes. Clinical outcomes (incidence of ED visits, readmissions, and reoperation within 30-days) and patient-reported outcomes (reported satisfaction, regret, and quality of life) were also worse with increasing preoperative opioid exposure for most outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to examine the effect of presurgical opioid exposure on both clinical and non-clinical outcomes in a broad cohort of patients, and shows that exposure is associated with worse postsurgical outcomes. A key question to be addressed is whether and to what extent opioid tapering before surgery mitigates these risks after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan G Frangakis
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Yenling Lai
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Opioid Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Bicket MC, Ladha KS, Boehnke KF, Lai Y, Gunaseelan V, Waljee JF, Englesbe M, Brummett CM. The Association of Cannabis Use After Discharge From Surgery With Opioid Consumption and Patient-reported Outcomes. Ann Surg 2024; 279:437-442. [PMID: 37638417 PMCID: PMC10840622 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000006085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare outcomes of patients using versus not using cannabis as a treatment for pain after discharge from surgery. BACKGROUND Cannabis is increasingly available and is often taken by patients to relieve pain. However, it is unclear whether cannabis use for pain after surgery impacts opioid consumption and postoperative outcomes. METHODS Using Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative registry data at 69 hospitals, we analyzed a cohort of patients undergoing 16 procedure types between January 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021. The key exposure was cannabis use for pain after surgery. Outcomes included postdischarge opioid consumption (primary) and patient-reported outcomes of pain, satisfaction, quality of life, and regret to undergo surgery (secondary). RESULTS Of 11,314 included patients (58% females, mean age: 55.1 years), 581 (5.1%) reported using cannabis to treat pain after surgery. In adjusted models, patients who used cannabis consumed an additional 1.0 (95% CI: 0.4-1.5) opioid pills after surgery. Patients who used cannabis were more likely to report moderate-to-severe surgical site pain at 1 week (adjusted odds ratio: 1.7, 95% CIL 1.4-2.1) and 1 month (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.7-2.7) after surgery. Patients who used cannabis were less likely to endorse high satisfaction (72.1% vs 82.6%), best quality of life (46.7% vs 63.0%), and no regret (87.6% vs 92.7%) (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patient-reported cannabis use, to treat postoperative pain, was associated with increased opioid consumption after discharge from surgery that was of clinically insignificant amounts, but worse pain and other postoperative patient-reported outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Karim S Ladha
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin F Boehnke
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Yenling Lai
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Dawson Z, Stanton SS, Roy S, Farjo R, Aslesen HA, Hallstrom BR, Bicket MC. Opioid Consumption After Discharge From Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Arthroplasty 2024:S0883-5403(24)00089-5. [PMID: 38336301 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2024.01.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain is challenging after recovery from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures, and patients often receive prescription opioids. However, opioid consumption by patients remains unclear, and unused opioids may lead to risks including misuse and diversion. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare prescription size versus patient-reported consumption of opioids after discharge following TKA and THA. METHODS PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for publications published between 2015 and 2022 on patient-reported consumption of opioids after TKA and THA. The primary outcome was opioid use in oxycodone 5-mg equivalents. Team members independently reviewed studies for screening, inclusion, data extraction, and risk of bias. RESULTS Among the 17 included studies (15 TKA and 11 THA), discharge opioid prescribing exceeded consumption for both TKA (88.4 versus 65.0 pills at 6 weeks) and THA (64.0 versus 29.8 pills at 12 weeks). For both TKA and THA, the range of opioids prescribed varied significantly, by 1.6-fold for TKA and 2.8-fold for THA. Most studies reported pain outcomes (89%) and the use of nonopioid medications (72%). Of the 4 studies offering prescribing recommendations, the amounts ranged from 50 to 104 pills for TKA and 30 to 45 pills for THA. CONCLUSIONS Opioid prescribing exceeds the amount consumed following TKA and THA. These findings serve as a call to action to tailor prescribing guidelines to how much patients actually consume while emphasizing the use of nonopioid medications to better optimize recovery from surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Dawson
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sofea S Stanton
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Samantha Roy
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Reem Farjo
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Heidi A Aslesen
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brian R Hallstrom
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Office of Clinical Affairs, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Billig JI, Bicket MC, Yazdanfar M, Gunaseelan V, Sears ED, Brummett CM, Waljee JF. Cohort study of new off-label gabapentin prescribing in chronic opioid users. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024; 49:88-93. [PMID: 37380198 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gabapentin is commonly prescribed as an off-label adjunct to opioids because of its safer risk profile. Recent evidence has shown an increased risk of mortality when coprescribed with opioids. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether the addition of off-label gabapentin in patients with chronic opioid use is associated with a reduction in opioid dosage. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic opioid use with a new off-label gabapentin prescription (2010-2019). Our primary outcome of interest was a reduction in opioid dosage measured via oral morphine equivalents (OME) per day after the addition of a new off-label gabapentin prescription. RESULTS In our cohort of 172,607 patients, a new off-label gabapentin prescription was associated with a decrease in opioid dosage in 67,016 patients (38.8%) (median OME/day reduction:13.8), with no change in opioid dosage in 24,468 patients (14.2%), and an increase in opioid dosage in 81,123 patients (47.0%) (median OME/day increase: 14.3). A history of substance/alcohol use disorders was associated with a decrease in opioid dosage after the addition of a new off-label gabapentin (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.23). A history of pain disorders was associated with a decrease in opioid dosage after the initiation of a new gabapentin prescription including arthritis (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.15), back pain (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.12), and other pain conditions (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.10). CONCLUSIONS In this study of patients with chronic opioid use, an off-label gabapentin prescription did not reduce opioid dosage in the majority of patients. The coprescribing of these medications should be critically evaluated to ensure optimal patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica I Billig
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Maryam Yazdanfar
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Erika D Sears
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Farjo R, Hu HM, Waljee JF, Englesbe MJ, Brummett CM, Bicket MC. Comparison of methods to identify individuals prescribed opioid analgesics for pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2023-105164. [PMID: 38272570 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-105164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While identifying opioid prescriptions in claims data has been instrumental in informing best practises, studies have not evaluated whether certain methods of identifying opioid prescriptions yield better results. We compared three common approaches to identify opioid prescriptions in large, nationally representative databases. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study, analyzing MarketScan, Optum, and Medicare claims to compare three methods of opioid classification: claims database-specific classifications, National Drug Codes (NDC) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or NDC from Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN). The primary outcome was discrimination by area under the curve (AUC), with secondary outcomes including the number of opioid prescriptions identified by experts but not identified by each method. RESULTS All methods had high discrimination (AUC>0.99). For MarketScan (n=70,162,157), prescriptions that were not identified totalled 42,068 (0.06%) for the CDC list, 2,067,613 (2.9%) for database-specific categories, and 0 (0%) for the OPEN list. For Optum (n=61,554,852), opioid prescriptions not identified totalled 9,774 (0.02%) for the CDC list, 83,700 (0.14%) for database-specific categories, and 0 (0%) for the OPEN list. In Medicare claims (n=92,781,299), the number of opioid prescriptions not identified totalled 8,694 (0.01%) for the CDC file and 0 (0%) for the OPEN list. DISCUSSION This analysis found that identifying opioid prescriptions using methods from CDC and OPEN were similar and superior to prespecified database-specific categories. Overall, this study shows the importance of carefully selecting the approach to identify opioid prescriptions when investigating claims data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Farjo
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hsou-Mei Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Overdose Prevention Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Song J, Li Y, Waljee JF, Gunaseelan V, Brummett CM, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC. What evidence is needed to inform postoperative opioid consumption guidelines? A cohort study of the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024; 49:23-29. [PMID: 37247946 PMCID: PMC10684823 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To balance adequate pain management while minimizing opioid-related harms after surgery, opioid prescribing guidelines rely on patient-reported use after surgery. However, it is unclear how many patients are required to develop precise guidelines. We aimed to compare patterns of use, required sample size, and the precision for patient-reported opioid consumption after common surgical procedures. METHODS We analyzed procedure-specific 30-day opioid consumption data reported after discharge from 15 common surgical procedures between January 2018 and May 2019 across 65 hospitals in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. We calculated proportions of patients using no pills and the estimated number of pills meeting most patients' needs, defined as the 75th percentile of consumption. We compared several methods to model consumption patterns. Using the best method (Tweedie), we calculated sample sizes required to identify opioid consumption within a 5-pill interval and estimates of pills to meet most patients' needs by calculating the width of 95% CIs. RESULTS In a cohort of 10,688 patients, many patients did not consume any opioids after all types of procedures (range 20%-40%). Most patients' needs were met with 4 pills (thyroidectomy) to 13 pills (abdominal hysterectomy). Sample sizes required to estimate opioid consumption within a 5-pill wide 95% CI ranged from 48 for laparoscopic appendectomy to 188 for open colectomy. The 95% CI width for estimates ranged from 0.7 pills for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to 7.0 pills for ileostomy/colostomy. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that profiles of opioid consumption share more similarities than differences for certain surgical procedures. Future investigations on patient-reported consumption are required for procedures not currently included in prescribing guidelines to ensure surgeons and perioperative providers can appropriately tailor recommendations to the postoperative needs of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Song
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Burns ML, Hilliard P, Vandervest J, Mentz G, Josifoski A, Varghese J, Fisher C, Kheterpal S, Shah N, Bicket MC. Variation in Intraoperative Opioid Administration by Patient, Clinician, and Hospital Contribution. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2351689. [PMID: 38227311 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance The opioid crisis has led to scrutiny of opioid exposures before and after surgical procedures. However, the extent of intraoperative opioid variation and the sources and contributing factors associated with it are unclear. Objective To analyze attributable variance of intraoperative opioid administration for patient-, clinician-, and hospital-level factors across surgical and analgesic categories. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was conducted using electronic health record data collected from a national quality collaborative database. The cohort consisted of 1 011 268 surgical procedures at 46 hospitals across the US involving 2911 anesthesiologists, 2291 surgeons, and 8 surgical and 4 analgesic categories. Patients without ambulatory opioid prescriptions or use history undergoing an elective surgical procedure between January 1, 2014, and September 11, 2020, were included. Data were analyzed from January 2022 to July 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures The rate of intraoperative opioid administration as a continuous measure of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) normalized to patient weight and case duration was assessed. Attributable variance was estimated in a hierarchical structure using patient, clinician, and hospital levels and adjusted intraclass correlations (ICCs). Results Among 1 011 268 surgical procedures (mean [SD] age of patients, 55.9 [16.2] years; 604 057 surgical procedures among females [59.7%]), the mean (SD) rate of intraoperative opioid administration was 0.3 [0.2] OME/kg/h. Together, clinician and hospital levels contributed to 20% or more of variability in intraoperative opioid administration across all analgesic and surgical categories (adjusting for surgical or analgesic category, ICCs ranged from 0.57-0.79 for the patient, 0.04-0.22 for the anesthesiologist, and 0.09-0.26 for the hospital, with the lowest ICC combination 0.21 for anesthesiologist and hosptial [0.12 for the anesthesiologist and 0.09 for the hospital for opioid only]). Comparing the 95th and fifth percentiles of opioid administration, variation was 3.3-fold among anesthesiologists (surgical category range, 2.7-fold to 7.7-fold), 4.3-fold among surgeons (surgical category range, 3.4-fold to 8.0-fold), and 2.2-fold among hospitals (surgical category range, 2.2-fold to 4.3-fold). When adjusted for patient and surgical characteristics, mean (square error mean) administration was highest for cardiac surgical procedures (0.54 [0.56-0.52 OME/kg/h]) and lowest for orthopedic knee surgical procedures (0.19 [0.17-0.21 OME/kg/h]). Peripheral and neuraxial analgesic techniques were associated with reduced administration in orthopedic hip (51.6% [95% CI, 51.4%-51.8%] and 60.7% [95% CI, 60.5%-60.9%] reductions, respectively) and knee (48.3% [95% CI, 48.0%-48.5%] and 60.9% [95% CI, 60.7%-61.1%] reductions, respectively) surgical procedures, but reduction was less substantial in other surgical categories (mean [SD] reduction, 13.3% [8.8%] for peripheral and 17.6% [9.9%] for neuraxial techniques). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, clinician-, hospital-, and patient-level factors had important contributions to substantial variation of opioid administrations during surgical procedures. These findings suggest the need for a broadened focus across multiple factors when developing and implementing opioid-reducing strategies in collaborative quality-improvement programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Burns
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Paul Hilliard
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - John Vandervest
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Graciela Mentz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Ace Josifoski
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Jomy Varghese
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Clark Fisher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sachin Kheterpal
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Nirav Shah
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Zhang J, Waljee JF, Nguyen TD, Bohnert AS, Brummett CM, Bicket MC, Chua KP. Opioid Prescribing by US Surgeons, 2016-2022. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2346426. [PMID: 38060230 PMCID: PMC10704275 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigates the rate and dosing of opioid prescriptions among US surgeons from 2016 to 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Thuy D Nguyen
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
| | - Amy S Bohnert
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Opioid Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Opioid Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Kao-Ping Chua
- Department of Pediatrics, Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
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13
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Lin CC, Callaghan BC, Burke JF, Kerber KA, Bicket MC, Esper GJ, Skolarus LE, Hill CE. Prescription Opioid Initiation for Neuropathy, Headache, and Low Back Pain: A US Population-based Medicare Study. J Pain 2023; 24:2268-2282. [PMID: 37468023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathy, headache, and low back pain (LBP) are common conditions requiring pain management. Yet little is known regarding whether access to specialists impacts opioid prescribing. We aimed to identify factors associated with opioid initiation among opioid-naïve older adults and evaluate how access to particular specialists impacts prescribing. This retrospective cohort study used a 20% Medicare sample from 2010 to 2017. Opioid initiation was defined as a first opioid prescription filled within 12 months after a diagnosis encounter. Disease-related opioid initiation was defined as a first opioid prescription filled within 7 days following a disease-specific claim. Logistic regression using generalized estimating equations was used to determine the association of patient demographics, provider types, and regional physician specialty density with disease-related opioid initiation, accounting for within-region correlation. We found opioid initiation steadily declined from 2010 to 2017 (neuropathy: 26-19%, headache: 31-20%, LBP: 45-32%), as did disease-related opioid initiation (4-3%, 12-7%, 29-19%) and 5 to 10% of initial disease-related prescriptions resulted in chronic opioid use within 12 months of initiation. Certain specialist visits were associated with a lower likelihood of disease-related opioid initiation compared with primary care. Residence in high neurologist density regions had a lower likelihood of disease-related opioid initiation (headache odds ratio [OR] .76 [95% CI: .63-.92]) and LBP (OR .7 [95% CI: .61-.81]) and high podiatrist density regions for neuropathy (OR .56 [95% CI: .41-.78]). We found that specialist visits and greater access to specialists were associated with a lower likelihood of disease-related opioid initiation. These data could inform strategies to perpetuate reductions in opioid use for these common pain conditions. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents how opioid initiation for opioid-naïve patients with newly diagnosed neuropathy, headache, and LBP varies across providers. Greater access to certain specialists decreased the likelihood of opioid initiation. Future work may consider interventions to support alternative treatments and better access to specialists in low-density regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Chieh Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Health Services Research Program, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brian C Callaghan
- Health Services Research Program, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - James F Burke
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kevin A Kerber
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Lesli E Skolarus
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Chloe E Hill
- Health Services Research Program, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Frangakis SG, MacEachern M, Akbar TA, Bolton C, Lin V, Smith AV, Brummett CM, Bicket MC. Association of Genetic Variants with Postsurgical Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses. Anesthesiology 2023; 139:827-839. [PMID: 37774411 PMCID: PMC10859728 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postsurgical pain is a key component of surgical recovery. However, the genetic drivers of postsurgical pain remain unclear. A broad review and meta-analyses of variants of interest will help investigators understand the potential effects of genetic variation. METHODS This article is a systematic review of genetic variants associated with postsurgical pain in humans, assessing association with postsurgical pain scores and opioid use in both acute (0 to 48 h postoperatively) and chronic (at least 3 months postoperatively) settings. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 2000 to 2022 for studies using search terms related to genetic variants and postsurgical pain in humans. English-language studies in adult patients examining associations of one or more genetic variants with postsurgical pain were included. The primary outcome was association of genetic variants with either acute or chronic postsurgical pain. Pain was measured by patient-reported pain score or analgesic or opioid consumption. RESULTS A total of 163 studies were included, evaluating 129 unique genes and 594 unique genetic variants. Many of the reported significant associations fail to be replicated in other studies. Meta-analyses were performed for seven variants for which there was sufficient data (OPRM1 rs1799971; COMT rs4680, rs4818, rs4633, and rs6269; and ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs2032582). Only two variants were associated with small differences in postsurgical pain: OPRM1 rs1799971 (for acute postsurgical opioid use standard mean difference = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.35; cohort size, 8,227; acute postsurgical pain score standard mean difference = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.31; cohort size, 4,619) and COMT rs4680 (chronic postsurgical pain score standard mean difference = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.44; cohort size, 1,726). CONCLUSIONS Despite much published data, only two alleles have a small association with postsurgical pain. Small sample sizes, potential confounding variables, and inconsistent findings underscore the need to examine larger cohorts with consistent outcome measures. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan G Frangakis
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark MacEachern
- Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - T Adam Akbar
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Current Position: Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christian Bolton
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Victor Lin
- Victor Lin, D.O., Ph.D.; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Albert V Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Innovation and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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15
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Larach DB, Waljee JF, Bicket MC, Brummett CM, Bruehl S. Perioperative opioid prescribing and iatrogenic opioid use disorder and overdose: a state-of-the-art narrative review. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2023:rapm-2023-104944. [PMID: 37931982 PMCID: PMC11070448 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/IMPORTANCE Considerable attention has been paid to identifying and mitigating perioperative opioid-related harms. However, rates of postsurgical opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose, along with associated risk factors, have not been clearly defined. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the evidence connecting perioperative opioid prescribing with postoperative OUD and overdose, compare these data with evidence from the addiction literature, discuss the clinical impact of these conditions, and make recommendations for further study. EVIDENCE REVIEW State-of-the-art narrative review. FINDINGS Nearly all evidence is from large retrospective studies of insurance claims and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data. Incidence rates of new OUD within the first year after surgery ranged from 0.1% to 0.8%, while rates of overdose events ranged from 0.01% to 0.8%. Higher rates were seen among VHA patients, which may reflect differences in data completeness and/or risk factors. Identified risk factors included those related to substance use (preoperative opioid use; non-opioid substance use disorders; preoperative sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and gabapentinoid use; and postoperative new persistent opioid use (NPOU)); demographic attributes (chiefly male sex, younger age, white race, and Medicaid or no insurance coverage); psychiatric comorbidities such as depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD; and certain medical and surgical factors. Several challenges related to the use of administrative claims data were identified; there is a need for more granular retrospective studies and, ideally, prospective cohorts to assess postoperative OUD and overdose incidence with greater accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Retrospective data suggest an incidence of new postoperative OUD and overdose of up to 0.8% during the first year after surgery, but prospective studies are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Larach
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Stephen Bruehl
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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16
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Bicket MC, Stone EM, McGinty EB. Association of cannabis use with patient-reported pain measures among adults with chronic pain in US states with medical cannabis programs. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2023:rapm-2023-104833. [PMID: 37923347 PMCID: PMC11065967 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Most Americans live in a state that has legalized cannabis as a medical treatment for pain, but it is unclear how chronic pain intensity relates to cannabis use. Our objective was to examine the association between patient-reported pain measures and cannabis among adults with chronic pain. METHODS This cross-sectional study of a representative sample of adults reporting chronic non-cancer pain in 36 states and DC with active medical cannabis programs from March to April 2022 assessed cannabis use for chronic pain, categorized as active (within 30 days), past (>31 days), or never use (referent). Measures were pain intensity (primary) and interference, Widespread Pain Index, and number of chronic pain diagnoses. RESULTS Among 1628 participants (57% female, 69% white), 352 (22%) actively used cannabis to treat chronic pain, 137 (8%) reported past cannabis use, and 1139 (70%) never used cannabis. In adjusted models, active cannabis use was associated with higher scores for pain intensity (score difference 1.03, 95% CI 0.05 to 2.02) and pain interference (score difference 1.82, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.65) compared with never use. Persons who actively used cannabis had higher Widespread Pain Index scores (score difference 0.56, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.86) and more chronic pain diagnoses (difference 0.45, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.83). CONCLUSION People with chronic non-cancer pain who used cannabis for pain reported non-clinically meaningful worse pain measures and greater burden of chronic pain conditions than their counterparts who never used cannabis. Alternatively, those with worse pain and greater burden of pain appear more likely to use cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Stone
- Center for Health Services Research, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Emma Beth McGinty
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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Dun C, Overton HN, Walsh CM, Hennayake S, Wang P, Fahim C, Bicket MC, Makary MA. A Peer Data Benchmarking Intervention to Reduce Opioid Overprescribing: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am Surg 2023; 89:4379-4387. [PMID: 35762831 DOI: 10.1177/00031348221111519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driving physician behavior change has been an elusive goal for quality improvement efforts aimed at reducing low-value care. We proposed the use of "nudge" interventions at the surgeon level in order to reduce post-surgical opioid overprescribing in accordance with consensus guidelines. METHODS We used 2017 Medicare data to identify outlier surgeons. A peer data benchmarking report that showed each surgeon the average number of opioid tablets they prescribed for an open inguinal hernia repair procedure from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. We conducted a 1:1 randomized controlled trial providing outlier surgeons a report of their opioid prescribing patterns for a standard operation compared to the national average and prescribing guidelines. RESULTS There were 489 surgeons randomized to the intervention, of which 180 (36.8%) had data in the post-intervention period. Data was available for 87 surgeons in the intervention group and 93 surgeons in the control group. 97.7% of surgeons in the intervention group reduced their opioid prescribing pattern compared to 95.7% in the control group. Surgeons who received the data benchmarking report intervention prescribed 14.3% less opioids than surgeons in the control group (10.54 (SD 5.34) vs. 12.30 (SD 6.02), P = .04). The intervention was associated with a 1.83 lower mean number of opioid tablets prescribed per patient in the multivariable linear regression model after controlling for other factors (Intervention group vs. control group 95% CI [-3.61, -.04], P = .04). DISCUSSION The implementation of a peer data benchmarking intervention can drive physician behavior change towards high-value care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Dun
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heidi N Overton
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christi M Walsh
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sanuri Hennayake
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peiqi Wang
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine Fahim
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michaels Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MA, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MA, USA
| | - Martin A Makary
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Kennedy-Hendricks A, Eddelbuettel JCP, Bicket MC, Meiselbach MK, Hollander MAG, Busch AB, Huskamp HA, Stuart EA, Barry CL, Eisenberg MD. Impact of High Deductible Health Plans on U.S. Adults With Chronic Pain. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:800-808. [PMID: 37187443 PMCID: PMC10592566 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic pain affects an estimated 20% of U.S. adults. Because high-deductible health plans have captured a growing share of the commercial insurance market, it is unknown how high-deductible health plans impact care for chronic pain. METHODS Using 2007-2017 claims data from a large national commercial insurer, statistical analyses conducted in 2022-2023 estimated changes in enrollee outcomes before and after their firm began offering a high-deductible health plan compared with changes in outcomes in a comparison group of enrollees at firms never offering a high-deductible health plan. The sample included 757,530 commercially insured adults aged 18-64 years with headache, low back pain, arthritis, neuropathic pain, or fibromyalgia. Outcomes, measured at the enrollee year level, included the probability of receiving any chronic pain treatment, nonpharmacologic pain treatment, and opioid and nonopioid prescriptions; the number of nonpharmacologic pain treatment days; number and days' supply of opioid and nonopioid prescriptions; and total annual spending and out-of-pocket spending. RESULTS High-deductible health plan offer was associated with a 1.2 percentage point reduction (95% CI= -1.8, -0.5) in the probability of any chronic pain treatment and an $11 increase (95% CI=$6, $15) in annual out-of-pocket spending on chronic pain treatments among those with any use, representing a 16% increase in average annual out-of-pocket spending over the pre-high deductible health plan offer annual average. Results were driven by changes in nonpharmacologic treatment use. CONCLUSIONS By reducing the use of nonpharmacologic chronic pain treatments and marginally increasing out-of-pocket costs among those using these services, high-deductible health plans may discourage more holistic, integrated approaches to caring for patients with chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alene Kennedy-Hendricks
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Mental Health, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Julia C P Eddelbuettel
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology and Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark K Meiselbach
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mara A G Hollander
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Alisa B Busch
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Haiden A Huskamp
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth A Stuart
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Mental Health, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Colleen L Barry
- Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Matthew D Eisenberg
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Mental Health, Matthew Eisenberg's, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Dembek DJ, Bicket MC. Advances in the management of persistent pain after total knee arthroplasty. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2023; 36:560-564. [PMID: 37338943 DOI: 10.1097/aco.0000000000001285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, with additional growth anticipated as the US population ages. Because the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain ranges from 15 to 25%, identifying persons at risk for persistent pain following surgery allows for preoperative optimization of risk factors as well as early identification and intervention in the postsurgical period. RECENT FINDINGS Clinical understanding of available management techniques is critical to management, which should focus on improving patient mobility and satisfaction while reducing patient disability and healthcare costs. Current evidence supports a multimodal management strategy. This includes pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, procedural techniques, and identification and optimization of psychosocial and behavioral contributors to chronic pain. Procedural techniques known to confer analgesia include radiofrequency and watercooled neurotomy techniques. More recently, case reports have been published describing analgesic benefit with central or peripheral neuromodulation as a novel, though more invasive analgesic therapy. SUMMARY Identification and early intervention to address persistent pain after TKA is important to optimize patient outcomes. The anticipated growth in TKA underscores the need for future investigations to more fully define potential therapies for chronic pain following TKA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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20
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Fernandez AC, Waljee JF, Gunaseelan V, Brummett CM, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC. Prevalence of Unhealthy Substance Use and Associated Characteristics Among Patients Presenting for Surgery. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e740-e744. [PMID: 36538617 PMCID: PMC10205913 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of and identify characteristics associated with unhealthy use before surgery. BACKGROUND Although the escalation in US drug overdose deaths is apparent, the unhealthy use of substances among patients presenting for surgery is unclear. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of patients presenting for elective surgical procedures between December 2018 and July 2021 and prospectively recruited to 1 of 2 clinical research studies (Michigan Genomics Initiative, Prevention of Iatrogenic Opioid Dependence after Surgery Study). The primary outcome was unhealthy substance use in the past 12 months as determined using the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use tool. RESULTS Among 1912 patients, unhealthy substance use was reported in 768 (40.2%). The most common substances with unhealthy use were illicit drugs [385 (20.1%)], followed by alcohol 358 (18.7%)], tobacco [262 (13.7%)], and prescription medications [86 (4.5%)]. Patients reporting unhealthy substance use were significantly more likely to be younger, male [aOR: 1.95 (95% CI, 1.58-2.42)], and have higher scores for pain [aOR: 1.07 (95% CI, 1.02-1.13)], and anxiety [aOR: 1.03 (95% CI, 1.01-1.04)]. Unhealthy substance use was more common among surgical procedures of the forearm, wrist, and hand [aOR: 2.58 (95% CI, 1.01-6.55)]. CONCLUSIONS As many as 2 in 5 patients in the preoperative period may present with unhealthy substance use before elective surgery. Given the potential impact of substance use on surgical outcomes, increased recognition of the problem by screening patients is a critical next step for surgeons and perioperative care teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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21
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Shabet CL, Bicket MC, Blair E, Hu HM, Langa KM, Kabeto MU, Levine DA, Waljee J. The Association of Cognitive Status and Post-Operative Opioid Prescribing in Older Adults. Ann Surg Open 2023; 4:e320. [PMID: 37746626 PMCID: PMC10513135 DOI: 10.1097/as9.0000000000000320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine the differences in opioid prescribing by cognitive status following common elective surgical procedures among Medicare beneficiaries. Background Older individuals commonly experience changes in cognition with age. Although opioid prescribing is common after surgery, differences in opioid prescribing after surgery by cognitive status are poorly understood. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients ≥65 years participating in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked with Medicare claims data who underwent surgeries between January 2007 and November 2016 and had cognitive assessments before the index operation. Cognitive status was defined as normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia. Outcomes assessed were initial perioperative opioid fill rates, refill rates, and high-risk prescriptions fill rates. The total amount of opioids filled during the 30-day postdischarge period was also assessed. Adjusted rates were estimated for patient factors using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Results Among the 1874 patients included in the analysis, 68% had normal cognition, 21.3% had MCI, and 10.7% had dementia. Patients with normal cognition (58.1%) and MCI (54.5%) had higher initial preoperative fill rates than patients with dementia (33.5%) (P < 0.001). Overall, patients with dementia had similar opioid refill rates (21%) to patients with normal cognition (24.1%) and MCI (26.5%) (P = 0.322). Although prior opioid exposure did not differ by cognitive status (P = 0.171), among patients with high chronic preoperative use, those with dementia had lower adjusted prescription sizes filled within 30 days following discharge (281 OME) than patients with normal cognition (2147 OME) and MCI (774 OME) (P < 0.001; P = 0.009 respectively). Among opioid-naive patients, patients with dementia also filled smaller prescription sizes (97 OME) compared to patients with normal cognition (205 OME) and patients with MCI (173 OME) (P < 0.001 and P = 0.019, respectively). Conclusions Patients with dementia are less likely to receive postoperative prescriptions, less likely to refill prescriptions, and receive prescriptions of smaller sizes compared to patients with normal cognition or MCI. A cognitive assessment is an additional tool surgeons can use to determine a patient's individualized postoperative pain control plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Shabet
- From the Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
| | - Emilie Blair
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cognitive Health Services Research Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Hsou Mei Hu
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Kenneth M Langa
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Deborah A Levine
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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22
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Lin VJT, Rieck H, Gunaseelan V, Wixson M, Waljee JF, Brummett CM, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC. The acceptability and utility of opioid and other high-risk substance use screening as implemented within the perioperative workflow. Pain Med 2023; 24:1116-1118. [PMID: 37040080 PMCID: PMC10472483 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor J T Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Heidi Rieck
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Matthew Wixson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
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23
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Santosa KB, Priest CR, Oliver JD, Kenney B, Bicket MC, Brummett CM, Waljee JF. Long-term Health Outcomes of New Persistent Opioid Use After Surgery Among Medicare Beneficiaries. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e491-e495. [PMID: 36375090 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We examined long-term health outcomes associated with new persistent opioid use after surgery and hypothesized that patients with new persistent opioid use would have poorer overall health outcomes compared with those who did not develop new persistent opioid use after surgery. BACKGROUND New persistent opioid use is a common surgical complication. Long-term opioid use increases risk of mortality, fractures, and falls; however, less is known about health care utilization among older adults with new persistent opioid use after surgical care. METHODS We analyzed claims from a 20% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years undergoing surgery between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2019. We estimated associations between new persistent use and subsequent health events between 6 and 12 months after surgery, including mortality, serious fall/fall-related injury, and respiratory or opioid/pain-related readmission/emergency department (ED) visits using a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate mortality and multivariable logistic regression for the remaining outcomes, adjusting for demographic/clinical characteristics. Our primary outcome was mortality within 6 to 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included falls and readmissions or ED visits (respiratory, pain related/opioid related) within 6 to 12 months after surgery. RESULTS Of 229,898 patients, 6874 (3.0%) developed new persistent opioid use. Compared with patients who did not develop new persistent opioid use, patients with new persistent opioid use had a higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio 3.44, CI, 2.99-3.96), falls [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.21, 95% CI, 1.05-1.39], and respiratory-related (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI, 1.49-1.86) or pain-related/opioid-related (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI, 1.55-1.82) readmissions/ED visits. CONCLUSIONS New persistent opioid use after surgery is associated with increased mortality and poorer health outcomes after surgery. Although the mechanisms that underlie this risk are not clear, persistent opioid use may also be a marker for greater morbidity requiring more care in the late postoperative period. Increased awareness of individuals at risk for new persistent use after surgery and close follow-up in the late postoperative period is critical to mitigate the harms associated with new persistent use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin R Priest
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jeremie D Oliver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Brooke Kenney
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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24
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White SA, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. Perceived Safety and Effectiveness of Cannabis and Other Types of Pain Treatments Among Adults with Chronic Noncancer Pain in U.S. States with Medical Cannabis Programs. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:2633-2635. [PMID: 36941425 PMCID: PMC10465452 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08163-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A White
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Office 356, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emma E McGinty
- Division of Health Policy and Economics, Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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25
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Howard R, Ryan A, Hu HM, Brown CS, Waljee J, Bicket MC, Englesbe M, Brummett CM. Evidence-Based Opioid Prescribing Guidelines and New Persistent Opioid Use After Surgery. Ann Surg 2023; 278:216-221. [PMID: 36728693 PMCID: PMC10314964 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate the association of evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines with new persistent opioid use after surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Patients exposed to opioids after surgery are at risk of new persistent opioid use, which is associated with opioid use disorder and overdose. It is unknown whether evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines mitigate this risk. METHODS Using Medicare claims, we performed a difference-in-differences study of opioid-naive patients who underwent 1 of 6 common surgical procedures for which evidence-based postoperative opioid prescribing guidelines were released and disseminated through a statewide quality collaborative in Michigan in October 2017. The primary outcome was the incidence of new persistent opioid use, and the secondary outcome was total postoperative opioid prescription quantity in oral morphine equivalents (OME). RESULTS We identified 24,908 patients who underwent surgery in Michigan and 118,665 patients who underwent surgery outside of Michigan. Following the release of prescribing guidelines in Michigan, the adjusted incidence of new persistent opioid use decreased from 3.29% (95% CI 3.15-3.43%) to 2.51% (95% CI 2.35-2.67%) in Michigan, which was an additional 0.53 (95% CI 0.36-0.69) percentage point decrease compared with patients outside of Michigan. Simultaneously, adjusted opioid prescription quantity decreased from 199.5 (95% CI 198.3-200.6) mg OME to 88.6 (95% CI 78.7-98.5) mg OME in Michigan, which was an additional 55.7 (95% CI 46.5-65.4) mg OME decrease compared with patients outside of Michigan. CONCLUSIONS Evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines were associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of new persistent opioid use and the quantity of opioids prescribed after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Howard
- Department of Surgery
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network
| | - Andrew Ryan
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan
| | | | - Craig S. Brown
- Department of Surgery
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Department of Surgery
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network
| | - Mark C. Bicket
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Department of Surgery
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network
| | - Chad M. Brummett
- Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
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26
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Bicket MC, Peahl A, Gaiser RR. Improving the Management of Postdural Puncture Headache-An International Clinical Guideline and Call for Better Evidence. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2325348. [PMID: 37581892 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Alex Peahl
- Department of Obstetrics, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Robert R Gaiser
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Have, Connecticut
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27
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Kehne A, Bernstein SJ, Thomas J, Bicket MC, Bohnert ASB, Madden EF, Powell VD, Lagisetty P. Improving Access to Care for Patients Taking Opioids for Chronic Pain: Recommendations from a Modified Delphi Panel in Michigan. J Pain Res 2023; 16:2321-2330. [PMID: 37456356 PMCID: PMC10348368 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s406034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose About 5-8 million US patients take long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. In the context of policies and guidelines instituted to reduce inappropriate opioid prescribing, abrupt discontinuations in opioid prescriptions have increased and many primary care clinics will not prescribe opioids for new patients, reducing access to care. This may result in uncontrolled pain and other negative outcomes, such as transition to illicit opioids. The objective of this study was to generate policy, intervention, and research recommendations to improve access to care for these patients. Participants and Methods We conducted a RAND/UCLA Modified Delphi, consisting of workshops, background videos and reading materials, and moderated web-based panel discussions held September 2020-January 2021. The panel consisted of 24 individuals from across Michigan, identified via expert nomination and snowball recruitment, including clinical providers, health science researchers, state-level policymakers and regulators, care coordination experts, patient advocates, payor representatives, and community and public health experts. The panel proposed intervention, policy, and research recommendations, scored the feasibility, impact, and importance of each on a 9-point scale, and ranked all recommendations by implementation priority. Results The panel produced 11 final recommendations across three themes: reimbursement reform, provider education, and reducing racial inequities in care. The 3 reimbursement-focused recommendations were highest ranked (theme average = 4.2/11), including the two top-ranked recommendations: increasing reimbursement for time needed to treat complex chronic pain (ranked #1/11) and bundling payment for multimodal pain care (#2/11). Four provider education recommendations ranked slightly lower (theme average = 6.2/11) and included clarifying the spectrum of opioid dependence and training providers on multimodal treatments. Four recommendations addressed racial inequities (theme average = 7.2/11), such as standardizing pain management protocols to reduce treatment disparities. Conclusion Panelists indicated reimbursement should incentivize traditionally lower-paying evidence-based pain care, but multiple strategies may be needed to meaningfully expand access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne Kehne
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Steven J Bernstein
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer Thomas
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Amy S B Bohnert
- Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin Fanning Madden
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Victoria D Powell
- Palliative Care Program, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pooja Lagisetty
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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28
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Fernandez AC, Aslesen H, Golmirzaie G, Stanton S, Gunaseelan V, Waljee J, Brummett CM, Englesbe M, Bicket MC. Patient Responses to Surgery-relevant Screening for Opioid and Other Risky Substance Use Before Surgery: A Pretest-posttest Study. Pain Med 2023; 24:896-899. [PMID: 36478099 PMCID: PMC10321761 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnac190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Heidi Aslesen
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Goodardz Golmirzaie
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sofea Stanton
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Correspondence to: Mark Bicket, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. E-mail:
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29
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Breuler CJ, Shabet C, Delaney LD, Brown CS, Lai YL, Brummett CM, Bicket MC, Englesbe MJ, Waljee JF, Howard RA. Prescribed Opioid Dosages, Payer Type, and Self-Reported Outcomes After Surgical Procedures in Michigan, 2018-2020. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2322581. [PMID: 37428502 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.22581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Collaborative quality improvement (CQI) models, often supported by private payers, create hospital networks to improve health care delivery. Recently, these systems have focused on opioid stewardship; however, it is unclear whether reduction in postoperative opioid prescribing occurs uniformly across health insurance payer types. Objective To evaluate the association between insurance payer type, postoperative opioid prescription size, and patient-reported outcomes in a large statewide CQI model. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used data from 70 hospitals within the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative clinical registry for adult patients (age ≥18 years) undergoing general, colorectal, vascular, or gynecologic surgical procedures between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020. Exposure Insurance type, classified as private, Medicare, or Medicaid. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was postoperative opioid prescription size in milligrams of oral morphine equivalents (OME). Secondary outcomes were patient-reported opioid consumption, refill rate, satisfaction, pain, quality of life, and regret about undergoing surgery. Results A total of 40 149 patients (22 921 [57.1%] female; mean [SD] age, 53 [17] years) underwent surgery during the study period. Within this cohort, 23 097 patients (57.5%) had private insurance, 10 667 (26.6%) had Medicare, and 6385 (15.9%) had Medicaid. Unadjusted opioid prescription size decreased for all 3 groups during the study period from 115 to 61 OME for private insurance patients, from 96 to 53 OME for Medicare patients, and from 132 to 65 OME for Medicaid patients. A total of 22 665 patients received a postoperative opioid prescription and had follow-up data for opioid consumption and refill. The rate of opioid consumption was highest among Medicaid patients throughout the study period (16.82 OME [95% CI, 12.57-21.07 OME] greater than among patients with private insurance) but increased the least over time. The odds of refill significantly decreased over time for patients with Medicaid compared with patients with private insurance (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98). Adjusted refill rates for private insurance remained between 3.0% and 3.1% over the study period; adjusted refill rates among Medicare and Medicaid patients decreased from 4.7% to 3.1% and 6.5% to 3.4%, respectively, by the end of the study period. Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective cohort study of surgical patients in Michigan from 2018 to 2020, postoperative opioid prescription size decreased across all payer types, and differences between groups narrowed over time. Although funded by private payers, the CQI model appeared to have benefitted patients with Medicare and Medicaid as well.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lia D Delaney
- Division of General Surgery, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Craig S Brown
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, Ann Arbor
- Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Yen-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Michael J Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Division of General Surgery, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, California
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Ryan A Howard
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
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McGinty EE, Tormohlen KN, Seewald NJ, Bicket MC, McCourt AD, Rutkow L, White SA, Stuart EA. Effects of U.S. State Medical Cannabis Laws on Treatment of Chronic Noncancer Pain. Ann Intern Med 2023; 176:904-912. [PMID: 37399549 DOI: 10.7326/m23-0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND State medical cannabis laws may lead patients with chronic noncancer pain to substitute cannabis in place of prescription opioid or clinical guideline-concordant nonopioid prescription pain medications or procedures. OBJECTIVE To assess effects of state medical cannabis laws on receipt of prescription opioids, nonopioid prescription pain medications, and procedures for chronic noncancer pain. DESIGN Using data from 12 states that implemented medical cannabis laws and 17 comparison states, augmented synthetic control analyses estimated laws' effects on receipt of chronic noncancer pain treatment, relative to predicted treatment receipt in the absence of the law. SETTING United States, 2010 to 2022. PARTICIPANTS 583 820 commercially insured adults with chronic noncancer pain. MEASUREMENTS Proportion of patients receiving any opioid prescription, nonopioid prescription pain medication, or procedure for chronic noncancer pain; volume of each treatment type; and mean days' supply and mean morphine milligram equivalents per day of prescribed opioids, per patient in a given month. RESULTS In a given month during the first 3 years of law implementation, medical cannabis laws led to an average difference of 0.05 percentage points (95% CI, -0.12 to 0.21 percentage points), 0.05 percentage points (CI, -0.13 to 0.23 percentage points), and -0.17 percentage points (CI, -0.42 to 0.08 percentage points) in the proportion of patients receiving any opioid prescription, any nonopioid prescription pain medication, or any chronic pain procedure, respectively, relative to what we predict would have happened in that month had the law not been implemented. LIMITATIONS This study used a strong nonexperimental design but relies on untestable assumptions involving parallel counterfactual trends. Statistical power is limited by the finite number of states. Results may not generalize to noncommercially insured populations. CONCLUSION This study did not identify important effects of medical cannabis laws on receipt of opioid or nonopioid pain treatment among patients with chronic noncancer pain. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E McGinty
- Division of Health Policy and Economics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (E.E.M.)
| | - Kayla N Tormohlen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (K.N.T., N.J.S., A.D.M., L.R., S.A.W.)
| | - Nicholas J Seewald
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (K.N.T., N.J.S., A.D.M., L.R., S.A.W.)
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.C.B.)
| | - Alexander D McCourt
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (K.N.T., N.J.S., A.D.M., L.R., S.A.W.)
| | - Lainie Rutkow
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (K.N.T., N.J.S., A.D.M., L.R., S.A.W.)
| | - Sarah A White
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (K.N.T., N.J.S., A.D.M., L.R., S.A.W.)
| | - Elizabeth A Stuart
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (E.A.S.)
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Howard R, Hendren S, Patel M, Gunaseelan V, Wixson M, Waljee J, Englesbe M, Bicket MC. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Elective Versus Emergency Surgery for Colorectal Cancer. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e51-e57. [PMID: 35950753 PMCID: PMC11062257 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate differences in presentation and outcomes of surgery for colorectal cancer. BACKGROUND Although racial and socioeconomic disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes are well documented, disparities in access affecting disease presentation are less clear. METHODS We conducted a statewide retrospective study of patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer between January 1, 2015, and April 30, 2021. The primary outcome was undergoing emergency surgery. Secondary outcomes included preoperative evaluation and postoperative outcomes. Covariates of interest included race/ethnicity, social deprivation index, and insurance type. RESULTS A total of 4869 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer, of whom 1122 (23.0%) underwent emergency surgery. Overall, 28.1% of Black non-Hispanic patients and 22.5% of White non-Hispanic patients underwent emergency surgery. On multivariable logistic regression, Black non-Hispanic race was independently associated with a 5.8 (95% CI, 0.3-11.3) percentage point increased risk of emergency surgery compared with White non-Hispanic race. Patients who underwent emergency surgery were significantly less likely to have preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen measurement, staging for rectal cancer, and wound/ostomy consultation. Patients who underwent emergency surgery had a higher incidence of 30-day mortality (5.5% vs 1.0%, P <0.001), positive surgical margins (11.1% vs 4.9%, P <0.001), complications (29.2% vs 16.0%, P <0.001), readmissions (12.5% vs 9.6%, P =0.005), and reoperations (12.2% vs 8.2%, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with colorectal cancer, Black non-Hispanic patients were more likely to undergo emergency surgery than White non-Hispanic patients, suggesting they may face barriers to timely screening and evaluation. Undergoing emergency surgery was associated with incomplete oncologic evaluation, increased incidence of postoperative complications including mortality, and increased surgical margin positivity. These results suggest that racial and ethnic differences in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer impact near-term and long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Howard
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Samantha Hendren
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Minal Patel
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Matthew Wixson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Michael Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Opioid Prescriging Engagement Network, Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate high-risk prescribing patterns among opioid prescriptions from U.S. surgeons; to characterize the distribution of high-risk prescribing among surgeons. BACKGROUND National data on the prevalence of opioid prescribing and high-risk opioid prescribing by U.S. surgeons are lacking. METHODS Using the IQVIA Prescription Database, which reports dispensing from 92% of U.S. pharmacies, we identified opioid prescriptions from surgeons dispensed in 2019 to patients ages ≥12 years. "High-risk" prescriptions were characterized by: days supplied >7, daily dosage ≥50 oral morphine equivalents (OMEs), opioid-benzodiazepine overlap, and extended-release/long-acting opioid. We determined the proportion of opioid prescriptions, total OMEs, and high-risk prescriptions accounted for by "high-volume surgeons" (those in the ≥95th percentile for prescription counts). We used linear regression to identify characteristics associated with being a high-volume surgeon. RESULTS Among 15,493,018 opioid prescriptions included, 7,036,481 (45.4%) were high-risk. Among 114,610 surgeons, 5753 were in the 95th percentile or above for prescription count, with ≥520 prescriptions dispensed in 2019. High-volume surgeons accounted for 33.5% of opioid prescriptions, 52.8% of total OMEs, and 44.2% of high-risk prescriptions. Among high-volume surgeons, 73.9% were orthopedic surgeons and 60.6% practiced in the South. Older age, male sex, specialty, region, and lack of affiliation with academic institutions or health systems were correlated with high-risk prescribing. CONCLUSIONS The top 5% of surgeons account for 33.5% of opioid prescriptions and 45.4% of high-risk prescriptions. Quality improvement initiatives targeting these surgeons may have the greatest yield given their outsized role in high-risk prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer F Waljee
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health Care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Kao-Ping Chua
- Department of Pediatrics, Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
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Howard R, Brown CS, Lai YL, Gunaseelan V, Brummett CM, Englesbe M, Waljee J, Bicket MC. Postoperative Opioid Prescribing and New Persistent Opioid Use: The Risk of Excessive Prescribing. Ann Surg 2023; 277:e1225-e1231. [PMID: 35129474 PMCID: PMC10537242 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate the association between postoperative opioid prescribing and new persistent opioid use. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Opioid-nave patients who develop new persistent opioid use after surgery are at increased risk of opioid-related morbidity and mortality. However, the extent to which postoperative opioid prescribing is associated with persistent postoperative opioid use is unclear. METHODS Retrospective study of opioid-naïve adults undergoing surgery in Michigan from 1/1/2017 to 10/31/2019. Postoperative opioid prescriptions were identified using a statewide clinical registry and prescription fills were identified using Michigan's prescription drug monitoring program. The primary outcome was new persistent opioid use, defined as filling at least 1 opioid prescription between post-discharge days 4 to 90 and filling at least 1 opioid prescription between post-discharge days 91 to 180. RESULTS A total of 37,654 patients underwent surgery with a mean age of 52.2 (16.7) years and 20,923 (55.6%) female patients. A total of 31,920 (84.8%) patients were prescribed opioids at discharge. Six hundred twenty-two (1.7%) patients developed new persistent opioid use after surgery. Being prescribed an opioid at discharge was not associated with new persistent opioid use [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-1.09)]. However, among patients prescribed an opioid, patients prescribed the second largest [12 (interquartile range (IQR) 3) pills] and largest [20 (IQR 7) pills] quartiles of prescription size had higher odds of new persistent opioid use compared to patients prescribed the smallest quartile [7 (IQR 1) pills] of prescription size [aOR 1.39 (95% CI 1.04-1.86) andaOR 1.97 (95% CI 1.442.70), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS In a cohort of opioid-naïve patients undergoing common surgical procedures, the risk of new persistent opioid use increased with the size of the prescription. This suggests that while opioid prescriptions in and of themselves may not place patients at risk of long-term opioid use, excessive prescribing does. Consequently, these findings support ongoing efforts to mitigate excessive opioid prescribing after surgery to reduce opioid-related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Howard
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Craig S Brown
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Yen-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
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Tormohlen KN, White SA, Bandara S, Bicket MC, McCourt AD, Davis CS, McGinty EE. Effects of state opioid prescribing cap laws on providers' opioid prescribing patterns among patients with chronic non-cancer pain. Prev Med 2023; 172:107535. [PMID: 37150305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Prior work suggests opioid prescribing cap laws are not associated with changes in opioid prescribing among patients with chronic pain. It is unknown how these effects differ by provider specialty, provider opioid prescribing volume, or patient insurer. This study assessed effects of state opioid prescribing cap laws on opioid prescribing among providers of patients with chronic non-cancer pain, by high volume prescribing, provider specialty, and patient insurer. We identified 224,290 providers of patients with low back pain, fibromyalgia, or headache, from the IQVIA administrative database. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we examined impacts of opioid prescribing cap laws implemented between 2016 and 2018 on the annual proportion of a provider's patient panel who received any opioid prescription, as well as on dose and duration of opioid prescriptions. For providers overall, high volume prescribers, all specialties, and patient insurance categories, prescribing cap laws were associated with non-significant changes of <1.0, 1.5, and 3.5 percentage points in the proportion of chronic non-cancer patients receiving any opioid prescription, a prescription with >7 days' supply, or with >50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME)/day, per year, respectively. There were two exceptions with high dose prescribing: prescribing cap laws were associated with a 1.5 percentage point increase in the proportion of high-volume prescribers' patient panel receiving an opioid prescription with ≥50 MME/day, and a 3.0 percentage point decrease in the same measure among surgeons. Among nearly all measured subgroups of providers and patient insurers, opioid prescribing cap laws were not associated with changes in opioid prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla N Tormohlen
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America.
| | - Sarah A White
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
| | - Sachini Bandara
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
| | - Mark C Bicket
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, United States of America
| | | | - Corey S Davis
- Network for Public Health Law, United States of America
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Bicket MC, Brummett CM, Mariano ER. Tapentadol and the opioid epidemic: a simple solution or short-lived sensation? Anaesthesia 2023; 78:416-419. [PMID: 36449368 DOI: 10.1111/anae.15932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - C M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - E R Mariano
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peri-operative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Anesthesiology and Peri-operative Care Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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36
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McCourt AD, Tormohlen KN, Schmid I, Stone EM, Stuart EA, Davis CS, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. Effects of Opioid Prescribing Cap Laws on Opioid and Other Pain Treatments Among Persons with Chronic Pain. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:929-937. [PMID: 36138276 PMCID: PMC10039157 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many states have adopted laws that limit the amount or duration of opioid prescriptions. These limits often focus on prescriptions for acute pain, but there may be unintended consequences for those diagnosed with chronic pain, including reduced opioid prescribing without substitution of appropriate non-opioid treatments. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of state opioid prescribing cap laws on opioid and non-opioid treatment among those diagnosed with chronic pain. DESIGN We used a difference-in-differences approach that accounts for staggered policy adoption. Treated states included 32 states that implemented a prescribing cap law between 2017 and 2019. POPULATION A total of 480,856 adults in the USA who were continuously enrolled in medical and pharmacy coverage from 2013 to 2019 and diagnosed with a chronic pain condition between 2013 and 2016. MAIN MEASURES Among individuals with chronic pain in each state: proportion with at least one opioid prescription and with prescriptions of a specific duration or dose, average number of opioid prescriptions, average opioid prescription duration and dose, proportion with at least one non-opioid chronic pain prescription, average number of such prescriptions, proportion with at least one chronic pain procedure, and average number of such procedures. KEY RESULTS State laws limiting opioid prescriptions were not associated with changes in opioid prescribing, non-opioid medication prescribing, or non-opioid chronic pain procedures among patients with chronic pain diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS These findings do not support an association between state opioid prescribing cap laws and changes in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D McCourt
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Kayla N Tormohlen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian Schmid
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Stone
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Stuart
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emma E McGinty
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- OptumLabs, Cambridge, USA
- Division of Health Policy and Economics, Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Akbar A, Rieck H, Roy S, Farjo R, Preston Y, Elhady H, Englesbe M, Brummett C, Waljee J, Bicket MC. Patient-Related Acceptability of Implementing Preoperative Screening For At-Risk Opioid and Substance Use. Pain Med 2023:7058935. [PMID: 36847437 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Akbar
- Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL.,Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Heidi Rieck
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Samantha Roy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Reem Farjo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Yolanda Preston
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Hatim Elhady
- Department of General Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Chad Brummett
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
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Priest CR, Waljee JF, Bicket MC, Hu HM, Chua KP. Comparison of Opioids Prescribed by Advanced Practice Clinicians vs Surgeons After Surgical Procedures in the US. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2249378. [PMID: 36598786 PMCID: PMC9857656 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.49378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Advanced practice clinicians (APCs), defined as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are increasingly being incorporated into surgical teams. Despite this inclusion, there are no recent national data on the role of these clinicians in surgical opioid prescribing or the dosing of such prescriptions. Objective To calculate the proportion of surgical opioid prescriptions written by APCs and to compare the total and daily dosages of these prescriptions with those written by surgeons. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used the Optum's De-Identified Clinformatics Data Mart, which contains deidentified claims from patients with private insurance and Medicare Advantage plans across the US. Adults and children who underwent 1 of 31 inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures from January 1, 2017, through November 30, 2019, were identified. The analysis was limited to procedures with 1 or more perioperative opioid prescriptions, defined as an opioid prescription dispensed within 3 days of the index date of surgery. Data were analyzed from April 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022. Exposures Prescriber specialty. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome was the proportion of perioperative opioid prescriptions and refill prescriptions written by APCs. Linear regression was used to compare the total dosage of perioperative opioid prescriptions written by APCs vs surgeons measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). Models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, opioid-naive status, year of index date, hospitalization or observation status, surgical complications, and surgeon specialty. Analyses were conducted at the procedure level, and patients with multiple procedures were included. Results Analyses included 628 197 procedures for 581 387 patients (358 541 females [57.1%]; mean [SD] age, 56 [18] years). Overall, APCs wrote 119 266 (19.0%) of the 628 197 perioperative opioid prescriptions and 59 679 (25.1%) of the 237 740 refill prescriptions. Perioperative opioid prescriptions written by APCs had higher total dosages compared with those written by surgeons (adjusted difference, 40.0 MMEs; 95% CI, 31.3-48.7 MMEs). This difference persisted in a subgroup analysis limited to opioid-naïve patients (adjusted difference, 15.7 MMEs; 95% CI, 13.9-17.5 MMEs). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional analysis, one-fifth of perioperative opioid prescriptions and one-quarter of refill prescriptions were written by APCs. While surgeons wrote most perioperative opioid prescriptions that were intended for perioperative analgesia, higher total dosages from APCs suggest that opioid stewardship initiatives that support the role of APCs may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin R. Priest
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer F. Waljee
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Mark C. Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Hsou-Mei Hu
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Kao-Ping Chua
- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
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Abstract
This cross-sectional study uses a survey to estimate use of cannabis and other pain treatments among adults with chronic pain in areas with medical cannabis programs in 36 US states and Washington, DC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C. Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Elizabeth M. Stone
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emma E. McGinty
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Simha S, Ahmed Y, Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid overdose and other adverse events in the USA and Canada: a systematic review. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2023; 48:37-43. [DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2022-103591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
ImportanceThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare beyond COVID-19 infections. A better understanding of how COVID-19 worsened the opioid crisis has potential to inform future response efforts.ObjectiveTo summarize changes from the COVID-19 pandemic on outcomes regarding opioid use and misuse in the USA and Canada.Evidence reviewWe searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for peer-reviewed articles published between March 2020 and December 2021 that examined outcomes relevant to patients with opioid use, misuse, and opioid use disorder by comparing the period before vs after COVID-19 onset in the USA and Canada. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, assessed methodological quality and bias via Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and synthesized results.FindingsAmong 20 included studies, 13 (65%) analyzed service utilization, 6 (30%) analyzed urine drug testing results, and 2 (10%) analyzed naloxone dispensation. Opioid-related emergency medicine utilization increased in most studies (85%, 11/13) for both service calls (17% to 61%) and emergency department visits (42% to 122%). Urine drug testing positivity results increased in all studies (100%, 6/6) for fentanyl (34% to 138%), most (80%, 4/5) studies for heroin (-12% to 62%), and most (75%, 3/4) studies for oxycodone (0% to 44%). Naloxone dispensation was unchanged and decreased in one study each.InterpretationSignificant increases in surrogate measures of the opioid crisis coincided with the onset of COVID-19. These findings serve as a call to action to redouble prevention, treatment, and harm reduction efforts for the opioid crisis as the pandemic evolves.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021236464.
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Santosa KB, Wang CS, Hu HM, Mullen CR, Brummett CM, Englesbe MJ, Bicket MC, Myers PL, Waljee JF. Opioid Coprescribing with Sedatives after Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2022; 150:1224e-1235e. [PMID: 36103669 PMCID: PMC9712174 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000009726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle relaxants and benzodiazepines are thought to mitigate against postoperative muscle contraction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration warn against coprescribing them with opioids because of increased risks of overdose and death. The authors evaluated the frequency of coprescribing of opioids with skeletal muscle relaxants or benzodiazepines after implant-based reconstruction. METHODS The authors examined health care claims to identify women (18 to 64 years old) who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction between January of 2008 and June of 2019 to determine the frequency of coprescribing, factors associated with coprescribing opioids and skeletal muscle relaxants or benzodiazepines, and the impact on opioid refills within 90 days of reconstruction. RESULTS A total of 86.7 percent of women ( n = 7574) who had implant-based breast reconstruction filled an opioid prescription perioperatively. Of these, 27.7 percent of women filled prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines, 14.4 percent for opioids and skeletal muscle relaxants, and 2.4 percent for opioids, benzodiazepines, and skeletal muscle relaxants. Risk factors for coprescribing opioids and benzodiazepines included use of acellular dermal matrix, immediate reconstruction, and history of anxiety. Women who filled prescriptions for opioids and skeletal muscle relaxants, opioids and benzodiazepines, and opioids with skeletal muscle relaxants and benzodiazepines were significantly more likely to refill opioid prescriptions, even when controlling for preoperative opioid exposure. CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of women filled an opioid prescription with a benzodiazepine, skeletal muscle relaxant, or both after implant-based breast reconstruction. Coprescribing of opioids with skeletal muscle relaxants may potentiate opioid use after surgery and should be avoided given the risks of sedation. Identifying strategies that avoid sedatives to manage pain after breast reconstruction is critical to mitigate high-risk prescribing practices. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine B. Santosa
- House Officer, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christine S. Wang
- House Officer, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hsou-Mei Hu
- Analyst, Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Connor R. Mullen
- House Officer, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chad M. Brummett
- Professor, Division of Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael J. Englesbe
- Professor of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark C. Bicket
- Assistant Professor, Division of Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paige L. Myers
- Assistant Professor, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer F. Waljee
- Associate Professor, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Howard R, Brown CS, Lai YL, Gunaseelan V, Chua KP, Brummett C, Englesbe M, Waljee J, Bicket MC. The Association of Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions with Patient Outcomes. Ann Surg 2022; 276:e1076-e1082. [PMID: 34091508 PMCID: PMC8787466 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare outcomes after surgery between patients who were not prescribed opioids and patients who were prescribed opioids. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Postoperative opioid prescriptions carry significant risks. Understanding outcomes among patients who receive no opioids after surgery may inform efforts to reduce these risks. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of adult patients who underwent surgery between January 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019. The primary outcome was the composite incidence of an emergency department visit, readmission, or reoperation within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain, satisfaction, quality of life, and regret collected via postoperative survey. A multilevel, mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to evaluate differences between groups. RESULTS In a cohort of 22,345 patients, mean age (standard deviation) was 52.1 (16.5) years and 13,269 (59.4%) patients were female. About 3175 (14.2%) patients were not prescribed opioids, of whom 422 (13.3%) met the composite adverse event endpoint compared to 2255 (11.8%) of patients not prescribed opioids ( P = 0.015). Patients not prescribed opioids had a similar probability of adverse events {11.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.2%-13.2%] vs 11.9% (95% CI 10.6%-13.3%]}. Among 12,872 survey respondents, patients who were not prescribed an opioid had a similar rate of high satisfaction [81.7% (95% CI 77.3%-86.1%) vs 81.7% (95% CI 77.7%- 85.7%)] and no regret [(93.0% (95% CI 90.8%-95.2%) vs 92.6% (95% CI 90.4%-94.7%)]. CONCLUSIONS Patients who were not prescribed opioids after surgery had similar clinical and patient-reported outcomes as patients who were prescribed opioids. This suggests that minimizing opioids as part of routine postoperative care is unlikely to adversely affect patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Howard
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Craig S Brown
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Yen-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Vidhya Gunaseelan
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kao-Ping Chua
- Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Chad Brummett
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Michael Englesbe
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jennifer Waljee
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing and Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Tollemar VC, Hu HM, Urquhart AG, Dailey EA, Hallstrom BR, Bicket MC, Waljee JF, Brummett CM. Association Between Initial Prescription Size and Likelihood of Opioid Refill After Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty 2022:S0883-5403(22)00975-5. [PMID: 36356789 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2022.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that there was no association between initial opioid prescription size and the likelihood of refill after elective primary total knee (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS We retrospectively analyzed large national datasets of commercial and Medicare insurance claims to identify a weighted cohort of 120,889 primary total joint arthroplasties (76,900 TKA and 43,989 THA) comprised of opioid-naive patients aged 18 to 75 years who had surgery between January 2015 and November 2019. The primary outcome was refill of any prescription opioid medication within 30 days after discharge, and the primary predictor variable was the total amount of opioid filled in the initial discharge prescription measured in oral morphine equivalents (OMEs). Logistic regressions were used to estimate the likelihood of refill, given a particular prescription size while adjusting for multiple patient factors, including age, sex, comorbidities, and year of surgery. RESULTS The 30-day refill rate was 59.6% following TKA and 26.1% for THA. Adjusted odds of refill decreased by 2% for every 75 OME (10 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone) increase to the initial prescription size among the THA cohort (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-0.99), and decreased by 3% for the TKA cohort (aOR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.97-0.98). CONCLUSION These nationally representative data demonstrated that larger initial opioid prescription size was associated with small but clinically insignificant decreases in 30-day refill after total joint arthroplasty. This finding should allay concerns about efforts to decrease postsurgical opioid prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor C Tollemar
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Hsou-Mei Hu
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Andrew G Urquhart
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Elizabeth A Dailey
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brian R Hallstrom
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Health care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Tormohlen KN, McCourt AD, Schmid I, Stone EM, Stuart EA, Davis C, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. State prescribing cap laws' association with opioid analgesic prescribing and opioid overdose. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 240:109626. [PMID: 36115221 PMCID: PMC9893520 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In response to the role of opioid prescribing in the U.S. opioid crisis, states have enacted laws intended to curb high risk opioid prescribing practices. This study assessed the effects of state prescribing cap laws that limit the dose and/or duration of dispensed opioid prescriptions on opioid prescribing patterns and opioid overdose. METHODS We identified 1,414,908 adults from a large U.S. administrative insurance claims database. Treatment states included 32 states that implemented a prescribing cap law between 2017 and 2019. Comparison states included 16 states and DC without a prescribing cap law by 2019. A difference-in-differences approach with staggered policy adoption was used to assess effects of these laws on opioid analgesic prescribing and opioid overdose. RESULTS State opioid prescribing cap laws were not associated with changes in the proportion of people receiving opioid analgesic prescriptions, the dose or duration of opioid prescriptions, or opioid overdose. States with laws that imposed days' supply limits only versus days' supply and dosage limits, as well as with specific law provisions also showed no association with opioid prescribing or opioid overdose outcomes. CONCLUSIONS State opioid prescribing cap laws did not appear to impact outcomes related to opioid analgesic prescribing or opioid overdose. These findings are potentially due to the limited scope of these laws, which often apply only to a subset of opioid prescriptions and include professional judgment exemptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla N Tormohlen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 357, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Alex D McCourt
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Ian Schmid
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Elizabeth M Stone
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Stuart
- Departments of Mental Health, Biostatistics, Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Corey Davis
- Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law, 7101 York Avenue South, #270, Edina, MN 55435, USA.
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5048, USA.
| | - Emma E McGinty
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy, ALACRITY Center for Health and Longevity in Mental Illness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 359, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Schmid I, Stuart EA, McCourt AD, Tormohlen KN, Stone EM, Davis CS, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. Effects of state opioid prescribing cap laws on opioid prescribing after surgery. Health Serv Res 2022; 57:1154-1164. [PMID: 35801988 PMCID: PMC9441291 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of state opioid prescribing cap laws on opioid prescribing after surgery. DATA SOURCES OptumLabs Data Warehouse administrative claims data covering all 50 states from July 2012 through June 2019. STUDY DESIGN We included individuals from 20 states that had implemented prescribing cap laws without exemptions for postsurgical pain by June 2019 and individuals from 16 control states plus the District of Columbia. We used a difference-in-differences approach accounting for differential timing in law implementation across states to estimate the effects of state prescribing cap laws on postsurgical prescribing of opioids. Outcome measures included filling an opioid prescription within 30 days after surgery; filling opioid prescriptions of specific doses or durations; and the number, days' supply, daily dose, and pill quantity of opioid prescriptions. To assess the validity of the parallel counterfactual trends assumption, we examined differences in outcome trends between law-implementing and control states in the years preceding law implementation using an equivalence testing framework. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS We included the first surgery in the study period for opioid-naïve individuals undergoing one of eight common surgical procedures. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS State prescribing cap laws were associated with 0.109 lower days' supply of postsurgical opioids on the log scale (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.139, -0.080) but were not associated with the number (Average treatment effect on the treated [ATT]: -0.011; 95% CI: -0.043, 0.021) or daily dose of postsurgical opioid prescriptions (ATT: -0.013; 95% CI: -0.030, 0.005). The negative association observed between prescribing cap laws and the probability of filling a postsurgical opioid prescription (ATT: -0.041; 95% CI: -0.054, -0.028) was likely spurious, given differences between law-implementing and control states in the pre-law period. CONCLUSIONS Prescribing cap laws appear to have minimal effects on postsurgical opioid prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Schmid
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. Stuart
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of BiostatisticsJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Alexander D. McCourt
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Kayla N. Tormohlen
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Elizabeth M. Stone
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Mark C. Bicket
- Department of AnesthesiologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Emma E. McGinty
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Health Policy and ManagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Nguyen SN, Hassett AL, Hu HM, Brummett CM, Bicket MC, Carlozzi NE, Waljee JF. Prospective cohort study on the trajectory and association of perioperative anxiety and postoperative opioid-related outcomes. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2022; 47:637-642. [PMID: 35973779 PMCID: PMC9549960 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2022-103742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although perioperative anxiety is common, its trajectory and influence on postoperative pain and opioid use are not well understood. We sought to examine the association and trajectory of perioperative anxiety, pain and opioid use following common surgical procedures. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1771 patients undergoing elective surgical procedures. Self-reported opioid use, pain (Brief Pain Inventory) and anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety) were recorded on the day of surgery and at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postsurgery. Clinically significant anxiety was defined as a PROMIS Anxiety T-score ≥55. We examined postoperative opioid use in the context of surgical site pain and anxiety using mixed-effects regression models adjusted for covariates, and examined anxiety as a mediator between pain and opioid use. RESULTS In this cohort, 65% of participants completed all follow-ups and 30% reported clinically significant anxiety at baseline. Anxiety and surgical site pain were highest on the day of surgery (anxiety: mean=49.3, SD=9.0; pain: mean=4.3, SD=3.3) and declined in the follow-up period. Those with anxiety reported higher opioid use (OR=1.40; 95% CI 1.0, 1.9) and 1.14-point increase in patient-reported surgical pain (95% CI 1.0, 1.3) compared with those without anxiety. Anxiety had no significant mediation effect on the relationship of pain and opioid use. DISCUSSION Anxiety is an independent risk factor for increased pain and opioid use after surgery. Future studies examining targeted behavioral therapies to reduce anxiety during the perioperative period may positively impact postoperative pain and opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay N Nguyen
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Afton L Hassett
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Hsou-Mei Hu
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN), Institute for Health Policy and Evaluations, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Noelle E Carlozzi
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Bandara S, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. Trends in opioid and non-opioid treatment for chronic non-cancer pain and cancer pain among privately insured adults in the United States, 2012–2019. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272142. [PMID: 35947577 PMCID: PMC9365134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical guidelines have emphasized non-opioid treatments in lieu of prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, exempting cancer patients from these recommendations. In this study, we determine trends in opioid and non-opioid treatment among privately insured adults with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) or cancer. Using administrative claims data from IBM MarketScan Research Databases, we identified privately-insured adults who were continuously enrolled in insurance for at least one calendar year from 2012 to 2019. We identified individuals with CNCP diagnosis, defined as a diagnosis of arthritis, headache, low back pain, and/or neuropathic pain, and a individuals with cancer diagnosis in a calendar year. Outcomes included receipt of any opioid, non-opioid medication, or non-pharmacologic CNCP therapy and opioid prescribing volume, MME-per-day, and days’ supply. Estimates were regression-adjusted for age, sex, and region. Between 2012 and 2019, the proportion of patients who received any opioid decreased across both groups (CNCP: 49.7 to 30.5%, p<0.01; cancer: 86.0 to 78.7%, p<0.01). Non-opioid pain medication receipt remained steady for individuals with CNCP (66.7 to 66.4%, p<0.01) and increased for individuals with cancer (74.4 to 78.8%, p<0.01), while non-pharmacologic therapy use rose among individuals with CNCP (62.4 to 66.1%, p<0.01). Among those prescribed opioids, there was a decrease in the receipt of at least one prescription with >90 MME/day (CNCP: 13.9% in 2012 to 4.9% in 2019, p<0.01; Cancer: 26.2% to 7.6%, p<0.01); >7 days of supply (CNCP: 56.3% to 30.7%, p <0.01; Cancer: 47.5% to 22.7%, p<0.01), the mean number of opioid prescriptions (CNCP: 5.2 to 3.9, p<0.01; Cancer: 4.0 to 2.7, p<0.01) and mean MME/day (CNCP: 49.9 to 38.0, p<0.01; Cancer: 62.4 to 44.7, p<0.01). Overall, from 2012–2019, opioid prescribing declined for CNCP and cancer, with larger reductions for patients with CNCP. For both groups, reductions in prescribed opioids outpaced increases in non-opioid alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachini Bandara
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Mark C. Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Emma E. McGinty
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Stone EM, Tormohlen KN, McCourt AD, Schmid I, Stuart EA, Davis CS, Bicket MC, McGinty EE. Association Between State Opioid Prescribing Cap Laws and Receipt of Opioid Prescriptions Among Children and Adolescents. JAMA Health Forum 2022; 3:e222461. [PMID: 36003417 PMCID: PMC9356320 DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.2461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance High-dose and long-duration opioid prescriptions remain relatively common among children and adolescents, but there is insufficient research on the association of state laws limiting the dose and/or duration of opioid prescriptions (referred to as opioid prescribing cap laws) with opioid prescribing for this group. Objective To examine the association between state opioid prescribing cap laws and the receipt of opioid prescriptions among children and adolescents. Design Setting and Participants This repeated cross-sectional study used a difference-in-differences approach accounting for staggered policy adoption to assess the association of state opioid prescribing cap laws in the US from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019, with receipt of opioid prescriptions among children and adolescents. Analyses were conducted between March 22 and December 15, 2021. Data were obtained from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse, a national commercial insurance claims database. The analysis included 482 118 commercially insured children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years with full calendar-year continuous insurance enrollment between 2013 and 2019. Individuals were included for every year in which they were continuously enrolled; they did not need to be enrolled for the entire 7-year study period. Those with any cancer diagnosis were excluded from analysis. Exposure Implementation of a state opioid prescribing cap law between January 1, 2017, and July 1, 2019. This date range allowed analysis of the same number years for both pre-cap and post-cap data. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes of interest included receipt of any opioid prescription and, among those with at least 1 opioid prescription, the mean number of opioid prescriptions, mean morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per day, and mean days' supply. Results Among 482 118 children and adolescents (754 368 person-years of data aggregated to the state-year level), 245 178 (50.9%) were male, with a mean (SD) age of 9.8 (4.8) years at the first year included in the sample (data on race and ethnicity were not collected as part of this data set, which was obtained from insurance billing claims). Overall, 10 659 children and adolescents (2.2%) received at least 1 opioid prescription during the study period. Among those with at least 1 prescription, the mean (SD) number of filled opioid prescriptions was 1.2 (0.8) per person per year. No statistically significant association was found between state opioid prescribing cap laws and any outcome. After opioid prescribing cap laws were implemented, a -0.001 (95% CI, -0.005 to 0.002) percentage point decrease in the proportion of youths receiving any opioid prescription was observed. In addition, percentage point decreases of -0.01 (95% CI, -0.10 to 0.09) in high-dose opioid prescriptions (>50 MMEs per day) and -0.02 (95% CI, -0.12 to 0.08) in long-duration opioid prescriptions (>7 days' supply) were found after cap laws were implemented. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, no association was observed between state opioid prescribing cap laws and the receipt of opioid prescriptions among children and adolescents. Alternative strategies, such as opioid prescribing guidelines tailored to youths, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Stone
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kayla N. Tormohlen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexander D. McCourt
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ian Schmid
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth A. Stuart
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Mark C. Bicket
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Emma E. McGinty
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland,Visiting Fellow, OptumLabs, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Hinds S, Miller J, Maccani M, Patino S, Kaushal S, Rieck H, Walker M, Brummett CM, Bicket MC, Waljee JF. Patient risk screening to improve transitions of care in surgical opioid prescribing: a qualitative study of provider perspectives. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2022; 47:475-483. [PMID: 35697386 PMCID: PMC9240329 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2021-103304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Introduction In patients undergoing surgical procedures, transitions in opioid prescribing occur across multiple providers during the months before and after surgery. These transitions often result in high-risk and uncoordinated prescribing practices, especially for surgical patients with prior opioid exposure. However, perspectives of relevant providers about screening and care coordination to address these risks are unknown. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with 24 surgery, primary care, and anesthesia providers in Michigan regarding behaviors and attitudes about screening surgical patients to inform perioperative opioid prescribing in relation to transitions of care. We used an interpretive description framework to topically code interview transcripts and synthesize underlying themes in analytical memos. Results Providers believed that coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches to identify patients at risk of poor pain and opioid-related outcomes could improve transitions of care for surgical opioid prescribing. Anesthesia and primary care providers saw value in knowing patients’ preoperative risk related to opioid use, while surgeons’ perceptions varied widely. Across specialties, most providers favored a screening tool if coupled with actionable recommendations, sufficient resources, and facilitated coordination between specialties. Providers identified a lack of pain specialists and a dearth of actionable guidelines to direct interventions for patients at high opioid-related risk as major limitations to the value of patient screening. Discussion These findings provide context to address risk from prescription opioids in surgical transitions of care, which should include identifying high-risk patients, implementing a coordinated plan, and emphasizing actionable recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby Hinds
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Miller
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Merissa Maccani
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sarah Patino
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shivani Kaushal
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Heidi Rieck
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Monica Walker
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad M Brummett
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark C Bicket
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer F Waljee
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Delaney LD, Bicket MC, Hu HM, O'Malley M, McLaughlin E, Flanders SA, Vaughn VM, Waljee JF. Opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing after COVID-19 hospitalization. J Hosp Med 2022; 17:539-544. [PMID: 35621024 PMCID: PMC9347718 DOI: 10.1002/jhm.12842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing after COVID-19 hospitalization is not well understood. We aimed to characterize opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing among naïve patients hospitalized for COVID and to identify the risk factors associated with a new prescription at discharge. In this retrospective study of patients across 39 Michigan hospitals from March to November 2020, we identified 857 opioid- and benzodiazepine-naïve patients admitted with COVID-19 not requiring mechanical ventilation. Of these, 22% received opioids, 13% received benzodiazepines, and 6% received both during the hospitalization. At discharge, 8% received an opioid prescription, and 3% received a benzodiazepine prescription. After multivariable adjustment, receipt of an opioid or benzodiazepine prescription at discharge was associated with the length of inpatient opioid or benzodiazepine exposure. These findings suggest that hospitalization represents a risk of opioid or benzodiazepine initiation among naïve patients, and judicious prescribing should be considered to prevent opioid-related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia D. Delaney
- University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and PolicyAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Mark C. Bicket
- Department of AnesthesiologyUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement NetworkInstitute for Healthcare Policy and InnovationAnn ArborMI
| | - Hsou Mei Hu
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement NetworkInstitute for Healthcare Policy and InnovationAnn ArborMI
- Department of SurgeryUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Megan O'Malley
- The Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- The Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium Coordinating CenterAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Elizabeth McLaughlin
- The Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- The Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium Coordinating CenterAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Scott A. Flanders
- The Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- The Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium Coordinating CenterAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Valerie M. Vaughn
- The Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
- Division of Health System Innovation & ResearchUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
| | - Jennifer F. Waljee
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and PolicyAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement NetworkInstitute for Healthcare Policy and InnovationAnn ArborMI
- Department of SurgeryUniversity of Michigan Health SystemAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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