Table 2.
Comparison of demographic characteristics and clinical diagnoses
| High-dose group (n = 60) | Traditional dose group (n = 60) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 57.3 (9.8) | 57.2 (13.01) | 0.986 |
| Male | 95.0% (57) | 88.3% (53) | 0.186 |
| Race | |||
| Caucasian | 70.0% (42) | 60.0% (36) | 0.251 |
| Not reported | 25.0% (15) | 38.3% (23) | 0.116 |
| Other | 5.0% (3) | 1.7% (1) | 0.309 |
| Marital status | |||
| Married | 51.7% (31) | 58.3% (35) | 0.463 |
| Separated or divorced | 33.3% (20) | 31.7% (19) | 0.845 |
| Single | 11.7% (7) | 5.0% (3) | 0.186 |
| Widowed | 3.3% (2) | 5.0% (3) | 0.648 |
| VA service connected | 98.3% (59) | 98.3% (59) | 1.00 |
| Average daily dose in morphine equivalent | 398.7mg (722.2) | 23.9mg (15.5) | <0.001 |
| Median daily opioid dose | 268.3 mg | 20.3 mg | – |
| Pain intensity | 6.6 (1.7) | 6.5 (1.2) | 0.527 |
| Pain diagnoses | |||
| Neck or joint pain | 73.3% (44) | 76.7% (46) | 0.673 |
| Low back pain | 76.7% (46) | 63.3% (38) | 0.111 |
| Arthritis | 70.0% (42) | 56.7% (34) | 0.130 |
| Neuropathy | 16.7% (10) | 21.7% (13) | 0.487 |
| Migraine | 11.7% (7) | 15.0% (9) | 0.591 |
| Fibromyalgia | 11.7% (7) | 8.3% (5) | 0.543 |
| Psychiatric diagnoses | |||
| Depression | 61.7% (37) | 58.3% (35) | 0.709 |
| Dysthymia | 18.3% (11) | 15.0% (9) | 0.624 |
| Bipolar disorder | 0.0% (0) | 8.3% (5) | 0.022 |
| PTSD | 41.7% (25) | 31.7% (19) | 0.256 |
| Panic disorder | 10.0% (6) | 8.3% (5) | 0.752 |
| Other anxiety disorders | 20.0% (12) | 20.0% (12) | 1.000 |
| Schizophrenia | 0.0% (0) | 5.0% (3) | 0.079 |
| Substance use disorder | 30.0% (18) | 25.0% (15) | 0.540 |
| Tobacco use | 38.3% (23) | 35.0% (21) | 0.705 |
PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Column values indicate % (n) for categorical variables or mean ± SD for continuous variables.