Our primary objective was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of high dose opioid users among older adults. Study populations included adults ≥65 years with: 1) 12-month continuous medical plan enrollment; and 2) at least 2 opioid prescriptions with a cumulative day supply ≥15 days. Opioid users were categorized as high dose >120 milligram morphine equivalents (MME) per day or lower dose ≤120 MMEs per day. Among eligible insureds, 3% (N = 7616) were identified as high dose opioid users. Compared to lower dose users, high dose opioid users were male, younger, depressed, in poorer health, had back pain, used benzodiazepines and/or sleep medications, and used 4 or more pharmacies. The prevalence of high dose opioid users was relatively small but users were characterized by a complex mix of physical and mental health issues. Interventions to reduce reliance on opioids may need mental health management to promote more effective pain management.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.06.001DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

high dose
24
opioid users
24
dose opioid
20
prevalence characteristics
8
dose
8
users
8
users older
8
older adults
8
lower dose
8
mental health
8

Similar Publications

Maladaptive changes in the homeostasis of AEA-TRPV1/CB1R induces pain-related hyperactivity of nociceptors after spinal cord injury.

Cell Biosci

January 2025

State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China.

Background: Neuropathic pain resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with persistent hyperactivity of primary nociceptors. Anandamide (AEA) has been reported to modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission through activation of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1Rs) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). However, the role of AEA and these receptors in the hyperactivity of nociceptors after SCI remains unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by damage and inflammation of hepatocytes. Some medicinal plants have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on liver cells. We aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Heptex® capsules containing 200 mg of Dukung Anak (a powdered extract from aerial parts of Phyllanthus niruri) and 100 mg of Milk Thistle (a powdered extract from fruits of Silybum marianum) in patients with an apparent risk factor for NASH.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Protective mechanism of safflower yellow injection on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating NLRP3 inflammasome.

BMC Complement Med Ther

January 2025

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Pharmacology, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China.

Objectives: This study intended to explore whether the protective effect safflower yellow injection (SYI) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats mediated of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Methods: The I/R model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 min and then releasing the blood flow for 150 min. 96 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham group, I/R group, Hebeishuang group (HBS), SYI high-dose group (I/R + SYI-H), SYI medium-dose group (I/R + SYI-M) and SYI low-dose group (I/R + SYI-L).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal haematopoietic disease, with median overall survival for patients with primary MF only 6.5 years. The most frequent gene mutation found in patients is JAK2, causing constitutive activation of the kinase and activation of downstream signalling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Assessment of the predictive power the radiation-induced lymphocyte apoptosis method in prostate cancer patients.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Department of Radiobiology and Diagnostic Onco-Cytogenetics, Centre of Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, 1122, Ráth György utca 7-9, Budapest, Hungary.

Due to the better survival of patients with tumorous diseases, it is increasingly important to predict the side effects of radiotherapy, for which the Radiation-Induced Lymphocyte Apoptosis (RILA) method is proving to be effective in multicentric studies. Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide, which is usually treated with radiotherapy. We recruited 49 patients with localized prostate cancer and performed RILA measurements before radiotherapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!