Researchers at University of Southern Florida Release New Data on Prescription Opioids [Opioid Prescription and Usage Disparities Among Puerto Rican Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings From the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry-health Insurance …]: Opioids – Prescription Opioids

2025 JUL 25 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health Policy and Law Daily -- Current study results on Opioids - Prescription Opioids have been published. According to news reporting originating from Tampa, Florida, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “PurposeHispanic/Latina breast cancer patients receive fewer opioid prescriptions for cancer-related pain. The primary aim of this study was to explore opioid prescription rates among Hispanic/Latina breast cancer survivors living in Puerto Rico.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed opioid prescription use in a retrospective cohort of Puerto Rican breast cancer women using the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry-Health Insurance Linkage Database.”

Funders for this research include Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Southern Florida, “Adjusted odds ratios and incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic and negative binomial regression analyses to assess factors associated with the use and frequency of opioids use.ResultsPuerto Rican breast cancer survivors, mostly 40-64 years old were included (n = 1,733). Opioid prescription three years following their breast cancer diagnosis was 13.1%. Participants enrolled in Medicare (AOR = 9.77) and dually eligible for Medicare-Medicaid (AOR = 5.54), with a comorbidity index of 1 (AOR = 1.50), with a history of opioid use before their cancer diagnosis (AOR = 2.49), and that received chemotherapy (AOR = 1.47) were more likely to be prescribed opioids.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Analyses in rates of opioid prescription revealed statistically significant increases among those enrolled in Medicare (IRR = 17.51) and dually eligible for Medicare-Medicaid (IRR = 11.74) and for those with a history of opioid prescription before diagnosis (IRR = 4.16).ConclusionFuture research should explore how factors such as structural racism and geographic isolation shape opioid prescription and usage among breast cancer survivors living in Puerto Rico.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Opioid Prescription and Usage Disparities Among Puerto Rican Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings From the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry-health Insurance Linkage Database (Prccr-hild). Cancer Causes & Control, 2025. Cancer Causes & Control can be contacted at: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands.

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Melody N. Chavez, University of Southern Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL 33620, United States. Additional authors for this research include Karen Ortiz-Ortiz, Rolando Trejos, Gabriella Sanabria, Troy Quast and Dinorah Martinez Tyson.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-025-02028-w. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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