Table 1.
Characteristics of chronic opioid therapy patients by average daily morphine equivalent dose.a
| Opioid Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | 1-19 mg | 20-49 mg | 50-119 mg | 120+ mg | All persons |
p-valueb |
| Number of patients (weighted %) |
216 (25.7%) | 332 (35.5%) | 724 (23.1%) | 611 (15.7%) | 1883 | |
| Female, % | 65.4 | 59.7 | 64.4 | 59.6 | 62.3 | 0.30 |
| Mean age (SE), y | 58.5 (0.9) | 55.7 (0.8) | 54.8 (0.6) | 52.6 (0.5) | 55.7 (0.4) | <.001 |
| BMI (SE) | 32.2 (0.7) | 30.3 (0.5) | 30.8 (0.7) | 30.3 (0.4) | 30.9(0.3)) | 0.26 |
| Some college education, % |
60.4 | 58.3 | 59.2 | 65.9 | 60.3 | 0.43 |
| Mean days with pain in prior 6 months (SE) |
163.8 (3.2) | 171.4 (2.1) | 168.5 (1.7) | 167.3 (1.6) | 168.1 (1.2) | 0.17 |
| Using opioids for more than one pain condition, % |
62.7 | 64.6 | 59.8 | 73.2 | 64.4 | 0.002 |
| Predominate use of long-acting opioids in the prior 3 months, % |
2.4 | 20.8 | 50.7 | 75.6 | 31.6 | <.001 |
| Self-reported drug or alcohol problem, % |
15.7 | 22.9 | 21.9 | 30.9 | 22.0 | 0.053 |
| Mean Charlson Score (SE) |
1.3 (0.2) | 1.0 (0.1) | 1.2 (0.1) | 1.4 (0.1) | 1.2 (.06) | 0.048 |
| Number of Times per Day took opioids last 2 weeks (SE) |
2.1 (0.07) | 3.0 (0.09 | 3.3 (0.08) | 3.7 (0.24) | 2.9 (0.06) | <.001 |
| Average pain intensity (0-10) (SE) |
5.7 (0.14) | 5.8 (0.14) | 5.9 (0.1) | 6.1 (0.09) | 5.8 (0.07) | <.001 |
| Mean Pain Impact Score (0-10) (SE) |
6.0 (0.24) | 6.9 (0.23) | 7.3 (0.16) | 7.9 (0.15) | 6.9 (0.11) | <.001 |
| Rate opioids as very or extremely helpful, % |
57.2 | 53.2 | 61.2 | 66.0 | 58.1 | 0.26 |
a
Opioid regimens defined in the 3 months prior to the interview. Patients reported taking opioids every day in the last 2 weeks.
b
P-values adjusted for health plan, gender, age and opioid type (predominant use of long versus short acting opioids), except for gender (controlled for age and type), age (controlled for gender and type) and predominant use of long-acting opioids (controlled for gender and age).