Long-term analgesic use after low-risk surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Arch Intern Med. 2012 Mar 12;172(5):425-30. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1827.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the risk of long-term analgesic use after low-risk surgery in older adults not previously prescribed analgesics.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked, population-based administrative data in Ontario, Canada, from April 1, 1997, through December 31, 2008. We identified Ontario residents 66 years and older who were dispensed an opioid within 7 days of a short-stay surgery (cataract surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate, or varicose vein stripping) and assessed the risk of long-term opioid use, defined as a prescription for an opioid within 60 days of the 1-year anniversary of the surgery. In a secondary analysis, we examined the risk of long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between postsurgical use of analgesics and long-term use.

Results: Among 391,139 opioid-naive patients undergoing short-stay surgery, opioids were newly prescribed to 27,636 patients (7.1%) within 7 days of being discharged from the hospital, and opioids were prescribed to 30,145 patients (7.7%) at 1 year from surgery. An increase in the use of oxycodone was found during this time (from 5.4% within 7 days to 15.9% at 1 year). In our primary analysis, patients receiving an opioid prescription within 7 days of surgery were 44% more likely to become long-term opioid users within 1 year compared with those who received no such prescription (adjusted odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.39-1.50). In a secondary analysis, among 383,780 NSAID-naive patients undergoing short-stay surgery, NSAIDs were prescribed to 1169 patients (0.3%) within 7 days of discharge and to 30,080 patients (7.8%) at 1 year from surgery. Patients who began taking NSAIDs within 7 days of surgery were almost 4 times more likely to become long-term NSAID users compared with patients with no such prescription (adjusted odds ratio, 3.74; 95% CI, 3.27-4.28).

Conclusion: Prescription of analgesics immediately after ambulatory surgery occurs frequently in older adults and is associated with long-term use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay*
  • Long-Term Care
  • Male
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Odds Ratio
  • Ontario
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / adverse effects
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid