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Prevalence of long-term opioid therapy in a chronic non-cancer pain population attending a university-based tertiary pain clinic in Sweden. A cross-sectional study

Grelz, Henrik LU orcid ; Fischer, Marcelo Rivano LU ; Priouzifard, Mirnabi ; Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid and Ringqvist, Åsa LU (2022) In Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 54.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Opioid therapy has become a common treatment for chronic pain despite accumulating evidence regarding harm and the lack of data to support efficacy for long-term treatments. The prevalence of opioid treatments in Swedish patients with chronic non-cancer pain is unknown. Hence, the present study aimed to assess a short-term period prevalence of prescribed opioid-use and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in a population with complex chronic non-cancer pain.

METHOD: The study population consisted of 1613 patients suffering from chronic non-cancer pain and referred to a university-based tertiary pain clinic in Sweden during 2015-2017. Data from a 360-day period prior to consultation were extracted from the Swedish Quality... (More)

BACKGROUND: Opioid therapy has become a common treatment for chronic pain despite accumulating evidence regarding harm and the lack of data to support efficacy for long-term treatments. The prevalence of opioid treatments in Swedish patients with chronic non-cancer pain is unknown. Hence, the present study aimed to assess a short-term period prevalence of prescribed opioid-use and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in a population with complex chronic non-cancer pain.

METHOD: The study population consisted of 1613 patients suffering from chronic non-cancer pain and referred to a university-based tertiary pain clinic in Sweden during 2015-2017. Data from a 360-day period prior to consultation were extracted from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP) and Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (SPDR). Milligram morphine equivalents per day (MME/day) for dispensed opioids were analysed for a 90-day period preceding consultation and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) was determined for the entire 360-day period.

RESULTS: The 90-day prevalence was 38% (CI 36-40,8) and the 360-day prevalence was 22.3% (n=360 with CI 20.4-24.4).

CONCLUSION: The prescribing rates of opioids in a Swedish population with complex non-cancer chronic pain were high; two in five patients were dispensed an opioid within a 90-day period prior to consultation.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
volume
54
article number
jrm00270
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85129781189
  • pmid:35174866
ISSN
1651-2081
DOI
10.2340/jrm.v54.1981
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8ea6ccfc-d742-44f9-b25b-ca9d44fb26df
date added to LUP
2022-03-17 12:11:19
date last changed
2024-04-18 00:16:28
@article{8ea6ccfc-d742-44f9-b25b-ca9d44fb26df,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Opioid therapy has become a common treatment for chronic pain despite accumulating evidence regarding harm and the lack of data to support efficacy for long-term treatments. The prevalence of opioid treatments in Swedish patients with chronic non-cancer pain is unknown. Hence, the present study aimed to assess a short-term period prevalence of prescribed opioid-use and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in a population with complex chronic non-cancer pain.</p><p>METHOD: The study population consisted of 1613 patients suffering from chronic non-cancer pain and referred to a university-based tertiary pain clinic in Sweden during 2015-2017. Data from a 360-day period prior to consultation were extracted from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP) and Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (SPDR). Milligram morphine equivalents per day (MME/day) for dispensed opioids were analysed for a 90-day period preceding consultation and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) was determined for the entire 360-day period.</p><p>RESULTS: The 90-day prevalence was 38% (CI 36-40,8) and the 360-day prevalence was 22.3% (n=360 with CI 20.4-24.4).</p><p>CONCLUSION: The prescribing rates of opioids in a Swedish population with complex non-cancer chronic pain were high; two in five patients were dispensed an opioid within a 90-day period prior to consultation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Grelz, Henrik and Fischer, Marcelo Rivano and Priouzifard, Mirnabi and Midlöv, Patrik and Ringqvist, Åsa}},
  issn         = {{1651-2081}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine}},
  title        = {{Prevalence of long-term opioid therapy in a chronic non-cancer pain population attending a university-based tertiary pain clinic in Sweden. A cross-sectional study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v54.1981}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/jrm.v54.1981}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}