Study reveals high rates of opioid prescriptions and excessive dosing in dialysis patients
By a
Pain is frequent in dialysis patients but pain control is difficult because many options should be avoided due to patients' kidney failure. Chronic use of opioid pain medications is a significant risk factor for opioid overdose in the general US population, but the issue has not been examined in the dialysis population.
To investigate,
Opioid medications were prescribed more frequently and for longer periods of time than in the general Medicare population, and often at high doses that are not recommended for patients with kidney failure. Almost two thirds of dialysis patients received at least one opioid prescription every year and >20% received chronic prescriptions (? 90 days of filled prescriptions), 3-times as great as the rate of chronic opioid prescription in the general Medicare population. More than one-quarter of opioid users received doses exceeding recommendations. Also, after adjusting for other factors, dialysis patients who received opioid medications were at significantly higher risk of early death, discontinuation of dialysis, and the need for hospitalization, compared with those who did not receive opioids. These adverse events were most common in those who received higher doses.
"Excessive opioid use and its adverse outcomes in the end-stage renal disease population is of great concern to US patients, practitioners, and policy makers," said
Keywords for this news article include:
Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2017, NewsRx LLC
An Application for the Trademark “FOR YOUR DREAM HOME SIDE.” Has Been Filed by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Foresters Financial Enhances Its Advantage Plus Whole Life Insurance with the Inclusion of Its Unique Charity Benefit Provision
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News