Background: Geriatric patients, age ≥65, frequently require no operation and only short observation after injury; yet many are prescribed opioids. We reviewed geriatric opioid prescriptions following a statewide outpatient prescribing limit.
Methods: Discharge and 30-day pain prescriptions were collected for geriatric patients managed without operation and with stays less than two midnights from May and June of 2015 through 2018. Patients were compared pre- and post-limit and with a non-geriatric cohort aged 18-64. Fall risk was also assessed.
Results: We included 218 geriatric patients, 57 post-limit. Patients received fewer discharge prescriptions and lower doses following the limit. However, this trend preceded the limit. Geriatric patients received fewer opioid prescriptions but higher doses than non-geriatric patients. Fall risk was not associated with reduced prescription frequency or doses.
Conclusions: Opioid prescribing has decreased for geriatric patients with minor injuries. However, surgeons have not reduced dosage based on age or fall risk.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7089804 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.10.041 | DOI Listing |
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