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Trends in chronic opioid therapy among survivors of head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Kriplani Anuja,
Lavery Jessica A.,
Mishra Akriti,
Korenstein Deborah,
LipitzSnyderman Allison N.,
Boudreau Denise M.,
Moryl Natalie,
Gillespie Erin F.,
Salz Talya
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.26478
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , opioid , epidemiology , odds ratio , cancer , cohort , receptor
Background Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) have increased risk of opioid misuse. Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End‐Results‐Medicare data, we matched adults ≥66 years diagnosed with HNC 2008‐2015 with cancer‐free controls. We computed odds ratios (OR) for receipt of chronic opioid therapy (COT, claims for ≥90 consecutive days) for HNC survivors compared to controls each year after matching through 2016. Results The cohort of HNC survivors declined from 5107 in the first year after diagnosis to 604 in the sixth year after diagnosis. For 5 years, rates of COT among HNC survivors exceeded that of controls. Differences between survivors and controls declined each year (ORs: year 1, 4.36; year 2, 2.60; year 3, 2.18; year 4, 1.85; and year 5, 1.35; all P ‐values <.05). Conclusions Among older HNC survivors, cancer‐associated opioid use in the first years after diagnosis suggests that the benefit of opioids must balance the risk of opioid misuse.