Faculty Collaboration Database

Opioid-related Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations Among Commercially Insured Individuals, 2009-2015. Clin J Pain 2018 Dec;34(12):1121-1125

Date

08/17/2018

Pubmed ID

30113319

DOI

10.1097/AJP.0000000000000643

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85056275858 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Overall opioid prescribing rates have decreased since 2012, but opioid-involved deaths have not. This study describes the regional and overall trends of opioid-related emergency department visits (EDVs) and hospitalizations of commercially insured patients on chronic opioids and those on concurrent opioids and benzodiazepines.

METHODS: Secondary data analysis from Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (MarketScan) database from 2009 to 2015 was used. Outcomes were geographic rates of opioid-related EDVs and hospitalizations and rates of concurrent benzodiazepine and opioid use.

RESULTS: Rates of opioid-related EDVs and hospitalizations for patients on chronic opioids have decreased since 2009. Two thirds of those with opioid-related EDVs and nearly 3-quarters of those with an opioid-related hospitalization were coprescribed benzodiazepines. The North Central region had the highest proportion of individuals on chronic opioid therapy (2.7%) in 2015. However, the South had not only the highest rates of opioid-related EDVs (23/100,000 in 2015) and opioid-related hospitalizations (39/100,000 in 2015) but also the largest percentage of individuals on concurrent opioids and benzodiazepines (41%).

DISCUSSION: Rates of opioid-related EDVs and hospitalizations, as well as concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use, vary geographically. More research is needed to examine factors that impact regional variation and what influences the concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines.

Author List

Kay C, Bernstein J, Fergestrom N, Jackson JL

Authors

Joanne Bernstein MD Director, Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey L. Jackson MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Cynthia Kay MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Analgesics, Opioid
Databases, Factual
Drug Overdose
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Insurance, Health
Male
Middle Aged
Young Adult