New-onset persistent opioid use following breast cancer treatment in older adult women. Cancer 2020 Feb 15;126(4):814-822
Date
12/18/2019Pubmed ID
31846054Pubmed Central ID
PMC6994182DOI
10.1002/cncr.32593Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85076796804 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 14 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer-related pain are underrepresented in the opioid literature despite high opioid exposure and numerous risk factors for adverse opioid outcomes, including unnecessary persistent opioid use. The objective of this study was to determine the extent, historical trends, and predictors of new-onset persistent opioid use among older adult women after active breast cancer treatment.
METHODS: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data for opioid-naive women diagnosed with stage 0 to III breast cancer at the age of 66 to 90 years between 2008 and 2013, this study estimated overall and quarterly adjusted probabilities of new-onset persistent opioid use, which was defined as receiving ≥90 days' supply of opioids in the year after active breast cancer treatment. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with an alternative definition of persistent opioid use: any opioid fill 90 to 180 days after active cancer treatment.
RESULTS: Nearly two-thirds of the subjects received prescription opioid therapy during cancer treatment. Quarterly probabilities of new-onset persistent opioid use after active treatment ranged from 2% to 4%; in sensitivity analyses, the alternative outcome definition resulted in predicted probabilities ranging from 11.4% to 14.7%. Subjects with more advanced disease, a higher comorbidity burden, a low-income status, and greater opioid exposure during active cancer treatment were more likely to develop persistent opioid use.
CONCLUSIONS: Persistent opioid use was an infrequent occurrence among older adult patients with breast cancer completing cancer treatment between 2008 and 2013. This finding was encouraging because of the concerning opioid trends seen in noncancer populations. However, opportunities to further mitigate unsafe opioid use as a complication of cancer care, including standardization of persistent opioid use definitions, should be explored.
Author List
Roberts AW, Fergestrom N, Neuner JM, Winn ANAuthor
Joan Neuner MD, MPH Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAged, 80 and over
Analgesics, Opioid
Breast Neoplasms
Cancer Pain
Drug Prescriptions
Female
Humans
Medicare
Opioid-Related Disorders
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
SEER Program
United States
