National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Back Health and Pain (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Elderly (1)
- Medication (3)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Opioids (2)
- (-) Pain (3)
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- Patient Safety (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- (-) Risk (3)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Surgery (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedWei YJ, Chen C, Lewis MO
Trajectories of prescription opioid dose and risk of opioid-related adverse events among older Medicare beneficiaries in the United States: a nested case-control study.
This study used a sample of older patients who are Medicare beneficiaries who were newly prescribed opioids to determine rates of 4 prescription opioid dose trajectories and the risk of opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). A 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2011 to 2018 was used to conduct a nested case-control study of patients age 65 and older who were newly diagnosed with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). Among the cases and controls, 2,192 (70.6%) were women and mean age was 77.1 years. Four prescribed opioid trajectories before the incident ORAE diagnosis or matched date emerged: gradual dose discontinuation (from ≤3 to 0 daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME), 1,456 [23.5%]), gradual dose increase (from 0 to >3 daily MME, 1,878 [30.3%]), consistent low dose (between 3 and 5 daily MME, 1,510 [24.3%]), and consistent moderate dose (>20 daily MME, 1,362 [22.0%]). Less than 5% were prescribed a mean daily dose of ≥90 daily MME during 6 months before diagnosis or matched date. Patients with gradual dose discontinuation versus those with a consistent low or moderate dose, and increase dose were more likely to be 65 to 74 years, Midwest US residents, and receiving no low-income subsidy. Those with gradual dose increase and consistent moderate dose had a higher risk of ORAE, after adjustment for covariates.
AHRQ-funded; HS027230.
Citation: Wei YJ, Chen C, Lewis MO .
Trajectories of prescription opioid dose and risk of opioid-related adverse events among older Medicare beneficiaries in the United States: a nested case-control study.
PLoS Med 2022 Mar;19(3):e1003947. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003947..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Risk, Chronic Conditions, Pain, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Dy CJ, Peacock K, Olsen MA
Frequency and risk factors for prolonged opioid prescriptions after surgery for brachial plexus injury.
This study examined risk of prolonged opioid prescription use after surgery for brachial plexus injury (BPI). A cohort of BPI surgery patients was compared to a control group of non-BPI patients, matching for age, sex, and year. Pharmacy claims for prescriptions filled for opioids and neuropathic pain methods were examined 1 year before surgery to 180 days after surgery. The primary outcome studied was prolonged opioid prescription, which is defined as receiving a prescription 90 to 180 days after the surgery or randomly selected date of service for controls. Among BPI patients, a subgroup analysis was also performed on opioid-naïve patients between 30 days to 1 year before surgery. Among BPI surgery patients, 27.7% had prolonged opioid prescriptions, but only 10.8% of opioid-naïve patients had prolonged opioid prescriptions. The rate for controls was 0.11%. The rates of prolonged opioid prescriptions for BPI patients was higher than previous estimates among other surgical patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Dy CJ, Peacock K, Olsen MA .
Frequency and risk factors for prolonged opioid prescriptions after surgery for brachial plexus injury.
J Hand Surg Am 2019 Aug;44(8):662-68.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2019.04.001..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Surgery, Pain, Practice Patterns, Risk, Chronic Conditions
Makris UE, Alvarez CA, Wei W
Association of statin use with risk of back disorder diagnoses.
Statins may increase vulnerability to myalgias and contribute to the myopathic component often experienced with back pain. This study’s goal was to examine the association of statin use with the risk of back disorder diagnoses. Researchers retrieved health care data for patients enrolled in TRICARE in the San Antonio military area. The overall cohort included 60,455 patients. Two treatment groups were identified: Statin users who recently received a first-time prescription for a statin and had been taking it for 120 days or more; statin non-users who never used statins and current users before they were prescribed statins. The study concludes that statin use is associated with increased likelihood of back disorder diagnoses.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makris UE, Alvarez CA, Wei W .
Association of statin use with risk of back disorder diagnoses.
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Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Medication, Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Risk