Table 1.
Baseline Patient Characteristics and Incidence of Comorbidities Prior to Index Date
| Variables [Mean (SD)/Proportions] | Opioid Naïve (n = 224) | Prior Opioid Users (n = 485) | P Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 33.87 (11.52) | 35.35 (12.00) | 0.12 |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 56 | 164 | 0.02 |
| Male | 168 | 321 | |
| Months of reported LBP before index date | 26.04 (50.21) | 22.64 (46.26) | 0.39 |
| Baseline ODI score | 15.73 (9.78) | 20.03 (12.72) | < 0.01 |
| FABQ physical activity score | 14.85 (5.20) | 15.93 (5.28) | 0.01 |
| FABQ work subscale score | 16.87 (10.39) | 20.48 (11.31) | < 0.01 |
| Beneficiary status | |||
| Active duty | 151 | 305 | < 0.01 |
| WTB | 6 | 49 | |
| Retired | 19 | 36 | |
| Res-NG | 8 | 9 | |
| FM | 40 | 86 | |
| Prior episodes of LBP | |||
| Yes | 123 | 292 | 0.37 |
| No | 97 | 183 | |
| Unknown | 4 | 10 | |
| Mental health disorder | |||
| Yes | 26 | 98 | < 0.01 |
| No | 198 | 387 | |
| Diabetes | |||
| Yes | 6 | 18 | 0.48 |
| No | 218 | 467 | |
| Obesity | |||
| Yes | 6 | 19 | 0.41 |
| No | 218 | 466 | |
| High blood pressure | |||
| Yes | 19 | 49 | 0.50 |
| No | 205 | 436 | |
| Chronic pain | |||
| Yes | 2 | 42 | < 0.01 |
| No | 222 | 443 | |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | |||
| Yes | 2 | 8 | 0.43 |
| No | 222 | 477 | |
| Systemic arthropathy | |||
| Yes | 5 | 26 | 0.06 |
| No | 219 | 459 | |
| Insomnia | |||
| Yes | 19 | 93 | < 0.01 |
| No | 201 | 391 | |
| Missing | 4 | 1 | |
| Tobacco use | |||
| Yes | 9 | 31 | 0.20 |
| No | 215 | 454 |
*
Descriptive statistics and comorbidity proportions were analyzed using t-tests and chi-square analyses (Fischer’s exact test when appropriate). FABQ, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire; FM, family member; LBP, low backpain; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; Res-NG, member of reserves or National Guard; SD, standard deviation; WTB, warrior in transition unit.
Bolded P values reflect statistical significance < 0.05.