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Patients with multiple postoperative narcotics providers have more prescriptions, longer narcotics duration
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Among orthopedic trauma patients, those with multiple postoperative narcotics sources had significant increases in postoperative narcotics prescriptions, duration of narcotic use and morphine equivalent dose per day, according to study data.
In a prospective, cohort study, researchers evaluated 130 patients culled via a state-controlled substance monitoring database, identifying all narcotic prescriptions filled 3 months prior to admission and 6 months after discharge.
Preoperative narcotic use was defined by three or more prescriptions within 3 months of admission. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they acquired prescriptions from more than one source.
Use of preoperative narcotics was observed in 8.5% of patients. Postoperatively, 20.8% of patients sought multiple narcotic providers.
Significant increases were seen between the single- and multiple-provider groups in postoperative narcotic prescriptions (two vs. seven prescriptions), duration of postoperative narcotic use (28 vs. 110 days) and daily morphine equivalent dose (26 mg vs. 43 mg), according to the researchers.
The researchers found that patients were 3.2 times more likely to seek multiple providers if they had a high school diploma or less and 4.5 times more likely if they had a history of preoperative narcotic use.
Disclosure: One or more of the authors, or his or her institution, has had a financial relationship, in the 36 months prior to submission of this work, with an entity in the biomedical arena that could be perceived to influence or have the potential to influence what is written in this work.
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