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Postoperative duration of opioid use and acute healthcare services use in cancer patients hospitalized for thoracic surgery
Author(s) -
Kurteva Siyana,
Tamblyn Robyn,
KhosrowKhavar Farzin,
Meguerditchian Ari N.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.26504
Subject(s) - medicine , opioid , emergency medicine , health care , emergency department , acute care , prospective cohort study , cohort study , adverse effect , anesthesia , confidence interval , nursing , receptor , economics , economic growth
Background Postoperative pain control is an important cancer care component. However, opioid consumption has resulted in a surge of adverse events, with thoracic surgery patients having the highest rate of persistent use. The effect of opioid duration post‐discharge and the risk of increased acute healthcare use in this population remains unclear. Methods A prospective cohort of non‐metastatic cancer patients was assembled from an academic health center in Montreal (Canada). Clinical data linked to administrative claims from the universal healthcare program was used to determine the association between time‐varying opioid patterns and emergency department (ED) visits/re‐admissions/death 3 months following thoracic surgery. Results Of the 610 patients, 77% had at least one opioid dispensed post‐discharge. Compared to non‐opioid users, <15 days of use was associated with a 42% decreased risk of acute healthcare events, adjusted HR 0.58, 95% CI (0.40–0.85); longer durations were not associated with an increased risk. Compared to short‐term use (<15 days), use of >30 days was associated with a 72% increased risk of the outcome, aHR: 1.72, 95% CI (1.01–2.93). Conclusion There was a variation in the risk of acute healthcare use associated with postsurgical opioid use. Findings from this study may be used to inform postoperative prescribing practices.