Table 1.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Short-term vs Prolonged Opioid Usersa
| Characteristicb | Short-term use (N=53,888) | Prolonged use (N=53,888) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y) at index date (mean) | |||
| Mean | 60.4±15.8 | 60.5±15.7 | .57 |
| Median | 62 (50-72) | 62 (50-73) | .61 |
| Duration of follow-up (d) | 857.8±636.6 | 1043.9±1037.9 | <.001 |
| Outpatient visits in prior year | 13.2±14.6 | 16.2±18.8 | <.001 |
| Hospitalizations in prior year | 0.25±0.73 | 0.42±1.1 | <.001 |
| Opioid initiation year | <.001 | ||
| 2010 | 9799 (18.2) | 14,304 (26.5) | |
| 2011 | 9203 (17.1) | 11,253 (20.9) | |
| 2012 | 8386 (15.6) | 8344 (15.5) | |
| 2013 | 7648 (14.2) | 6974 (12.9) | |
| 2014 | 6298 (11.7) | 5307 (9.8) | |
| 2015 | 6117 (11.4) | 4969 (9.2) | |
| 2016 | 6437 (11.9) | 2737 (5.1) | |
| Opioid indications | |||
| Back pain | 19,739 (36.6) | 19,739 (36.6) | >.99 |
| Joint pain | 18,700 (34.7) | 18,700 (34.7) | >.99 |
| Nerve pain | 3922 (7.3) | 3922 (7.3) | >.99 |
| Headache | 2266 (4.2) | 2266 (4.2) | >.99 |
| Chronic pain | 2267 (4.2) | 2267 (4.2) | >.99 |
| Chest pain | 6325 (11.7) | 6325 (11.7) | >.99 |
| Cancer | 4889 (9.1) | 4889 (9.1) | >.99 |
| Muscle pain | 9832 (18.2) | 9832 (18.2) | >.99 |
| Visceral | 2410 (4.5) | 2410 (4.5) | >.99 |
| Fracture | 1723 (3.2) | 1723 (3.2) | >.99 |
| Wound | 1303 (2.4) | 1303 (2.4) | >.99 |
| Other | 630 (1.2) | 630 (1.2) | >.99 |
| Elixhauser Comorbidity Score | >.99 | ||
| 0 | 15,484 (28.7) | 9487 (17.6) | |
| 1 | 12,126 (22.5) | 10,418 (19.3) | |
| 2 | 9306 (17.3) | 9657 (17.9) | |
| ≥3 | 16,972 (31.5) | 24,326 (45.1) | |
| Elixhauser comorbiditiesc | |||
| Alcohol abuse | 924 (1.7) | 2329 (4.3) | <.001 |
| Arrhythmia | 8413 (15.6) | 9684 (18.0) | <.001 |
| Anemia | 454 (0.8) | 717 (1.3) | <.001 |
| Congestive heart failure | 3620 (6.7) | 5767 (10.7) | <.001 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 7258 (13.5) | 11,667 (21.7) | <.001 |
| Coagulopathy | 1501 (2.8) | 2077 (3.9) | <.001 |
| Deficiency anemia | 1814 (3.4) | 3081 (5.7) | <.001 |
| Depression | 3657 (6.8) | 7028 (13.0) | <.001 |
| Diabetes with complications | 3706 (6.9) | 5743 (10.7) | <.001 |
| Diabetes without complications | 10,380 (19.3) | 14,561 (27.0) | <.001 |
| Drug abuse | 332 (0.6) | 1380 (2.6) | <.001 |
| Electrolyte disorders | 3637 (6.7) | 6478 (12.0) | <.001 |
| HIV | 124 (0.2) | 216 (0.4) | <.001 |
| Hypertension with complications | 3709 (6.9) | 4993 (9.3) | <.001 |
| Hypertension without complications | 27,262 (50.6) | 32,388 (60.1) | <.001 |
| Hypothyroidism | 4457 (8.3) | 4788 (8.9) | <.001 |
| Liver disease | 1949 (3.6) | 3401 (6.3) | <.001 |
| Lymphoma | 550 (1.0) | 745 (1.4) | <.001 |
| Metastatic cancer | 730 (1.4) | 2225 (4.1) | <.001 |
| Neurologic disorders | 2060 (3.8) | 3436 (6.4) | <.001 |
| Obesity | 4181 (7.8) | 5237 (9.7) | <.001 |
| Paralysis | 362 (0.7) | 1089 (2.0) | <.001 |
| Peptic ulcer disease | 451 (0.8) | 784 (1.5) | <.001 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 4994 (9.3) | 7403 (13.7) | <.001 |
| Psychosis | 590 (1.1) | 1379 (2.6) | <.001 |
| Pulmonary circulation disorders | 1055 (2.0) | 1649 (3.1) | <.001 |
| Renal failure | 3944 (7.3) | 5731 (10.6) | <.001 |
| Tumor (no metastasis) | 6470 (12.0) | 6971 (12.9) | <.001 |
| Valvular disease | 4358 (8.1) | 4718 (8.8) | <.001 |
| Weight loss | 1353 (2.5) | 3011 (5.6) | <.001 |
| Adrenal insufficiency | 184 (0.3) | 674 (1.3) | <.001 |
| Glucocorticoid use | 11,185 (20.8) | 12,163 (22.6) | <.001 |
a
Data are presented as mean ± SD, median (interquartile range), or No. (percentage) of patients.
b
Cohorts were matched for age and index/diagnosis date.
c
Comorbid conditions were measured using the factors that comprise the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index.