Researchers of a retrospective cohort study analyzed opioid usage patterns among patients newly diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comparing their data with controls without these diseases using US healthcare databases. Findings revealed that patients with AS, PsA, or RA exhibit a high reliance on opioids both a year before and after their diagnosis, highlighting ongoing pain management issues. The study also showed that these patients were more likely to use opioids long-term, with notable differences in usage based on gender and type of arthritis. Additionally, a significant proportion of patients did not receive guideline-appropriate therapy post-diagnosis, particularly among those covered by Medicaid.
These findings underline the broader implications of opioid reliance, including increased healthcare costs and social burdens. In addition, they point to an urgent need for better adherence to treatment guidelines and patient education about appropriate pain management strategies.
Reference: Derman C. Patients with new AS, PSA, RA Diagnosis Have High Reliance on Opioids. HCPLive. Published May 2, 2024. Accessed May 14, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/patients-with-new-as-psa-ra-diagnosis-have-high-reliance-on-opioids
Link: https://www.hcplive.com/view/patients-with-new-as-psa-ra-diagnosis-have-high-reliance-on-opioids
