title: Prevalence and characteristics of hospitalized adults on chronic opioid therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As chronic opioid therapy (COT) becomes more common, complexity of pain management in the inpatient setting increases; little is known about medical inpatients on COT.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of COT among hospitalized patients and to compare outcomes among these patients relative to those not receiving COT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study of inpatient and outpatient administrative data.
  
  
  METHODS
  All veterans with acute medical admissions to 129 Veterans Administration hospitals during fiscal years 2009 to 2011, residing in the community, and with outpatient pharmacy use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We defined COT as 90 or more days of opioids prescribed in the 6 months prior to hospitalization. Patient characteristics included demographic variables and major comorbidities. Outcomes included 30-day readmission and death during hospitalization or within 30 days, with associations ascertained using multivariable logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 122,794 hospitalized veterans, 31,802 (25.9%) received COT. These patients differed from comparators in age, sex, race, residence, and presence of chronic noncancer pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, complicated diabetes, cancer, and mental health diagnoses including post-traumatic stress disorder. After adjustment for demographic factors, comorbidities, and admission diagnosis, COT was associated with hospital readmission (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-1.20) and death (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COT is common among medical inpatients. Patients on COT differ from patients without COT beyond dissimilarities in pain and cancer diagnoses. Occasional and chronic opioid use are associated with increased risk of hospital readmission, and COT is associated with increased risk of death. Additional research relating COT to hospitalization outcomes is warranted.
authors: Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors: Hilary J
authors: HJ
authors: Mosher
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Jiang
authors: Mary S
authors: MS
authors: Vaughan Sarrazin
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Cram
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Kaboli
authors: Mark W
authors: MW
authors: Vander Weg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid