Impact of social determinants of health on perioperative opioid utilization in patients with lumbar degeneration.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH), have been demonstrated to significantly impact health outcomes in spine patients. There may be interaction between opioid use and these factors in spine surgical patients. We aimed to evaluate the social determinants of health (SDOH) which are associated with perioperative opioid use among lumbar spine patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients undergoing spine surgery for lumbar degeneration in 2019. Opioid use was determined based on prescription records from the electronic medical records. Preoperative opioid users (OU) were compared with opioid-naïve patients regarding SDOH including demographics like age and race, and clinical data such as activity and tobacco use. Demographics and surgical data, including age, comorbidities, surgical invasiveness, and other variables were also collected from the records. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis of these factors.

Results: Ninety-eight patients were opioid-naïve and 90 used opioids preoperatively. All OU had ≥3 months of use, had more prior spine surgeries (1.07 vs. 0.44, p<.001) and more comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, and depression (p=.021, 0.043, 0.017). Patients from lower community median income areas, unemployed, or with lower physical capacity (METS<5) were more likely to use opioids preoperatively. Postoperative opioid use was strongly associated with preoperative opioid use, as well as alcohol use, and lower community median income. At one year postoperatively, OU had higher rates of opioid use [72.2% vs. 15.3%, p<.001].

Conclusions: Unemployment, low physical activity level, and lower community median income were associated with preoperative opioid use and longer-term opioid use postoperatively.