title: Age and gender trends in long-term opioid analgesic use for noncancer pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe age and gender trends in long-term use of prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in 2 large health plans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age- and gender-standardized incident (beginning in each year) and prevalent (ongoing) opioid use episodes were estimated with automated health care data from 1997 to 2005. Profiles of opioid use in 2005 by age and gender were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1997 to 2005, age-gender groups exhibited a total percentage increase ranging from 16% to 87% for incident long-term opioid use and from 61% to 135% for prevalent long-term opioid use. Women had higher opioid use than did men. Older women had the highest prevalence of long-term opioid use (8%-9% in 2005). Concurrent use of sedative-hypnotic drugs and opioids was common, particularly among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risks and benefits of long-term opioid use are poorly understood, particularly among older adults. Increased surveillance of the safety of long-term opioid use is needed in community practice settings.
authors: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. cynthia.i.campbell@kp.org
authors: Cynthia I
authors: CI
authors: Campbell
authors: Constance
authors: C
authors: Weisner
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Leresche
authors: G Thomas
authors: GT
authors: Ray
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Saunders
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Sullivan
authors: Caleb J
authors: CJ
authors: Banta-Green
authors: Joseph O
authors: JO
authors: Merrill
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Silverberg
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Boudreau
authors: Derek D
authors: DD
authors: Satre
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Von Korff
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013221:State Health Plans; D014861:Washington
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid