title: A description of clinical characteristics and treatment patterns observed within prescribed opioid users in Germany and the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a cohort of new opioid users (adult noncancer patients) in terms of clinical characteristics and treatment patterns in the UK and Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data used were extracted from electronic medical records databases (UK: Clinical Practice Research Database-Hospital Episode Statistics; Germany: IMS Disease Analyzer) covering the 2008-2012 period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most eligible patients were treated with opioids for less than 6 months (UK: 78.7% and Germany: 93.7%) and indexed on weak opioids (UK: 89.5% and Germany: 88.6%). Most prescribed opioids were codeine (UK) and tramadol (Germany). Most prevalent comorbidities were dorsalgia/depression. Constipation was observed in 16.8%/17.4% (UK/Germany) of chronic users (>6 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While both populations were highly morbid populations largely initiated on weak opioids, chronic use was less common in Germany.
authors.affiliation: IMS Health IMS HEALTH®, Medialaan 38, 1800 Vilvoorde, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Maartje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: Soheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chavoshi
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sostek
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: LoCasale
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D014147:Tramadol; D003061:Codeine
keywords: CPRD; drug utilization; electronic medical records; epidemiology; opioid; pain