For patients 45 to 65 years old, orthopedic cases accounted for four out of five procedures accounting for the highest proportions of postoperative opioid prescriptions, according to a study published June 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Four things to know:
1. Researchers did a cross-sectional analysis of the 2020-2021 Merative MarketScan Commercial and Multi-State databases. They measured the total amount of opioids dispensed within three days after surgical discharge.
2. In patients 45 to 64 years old, four orthopedic procedures accounted for 27.4% of total opioids dispensed for the age group. The cases are knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy and hip arthroplasty.
3. In patients 18 to 44 years old, cesarean delivery accounted for the highest percentage of opioids dispensed after surgery.
4. The study concluded: "These findings suggest that the optimal design and targeting of surgical opioid stewardship initiatives in adults undergoing surgery should focus on the procedures that account for the most opioid dispensed following surgery over the life span, such as childbirth and orthopedic procedures. Going forward, systems that provide periodic surveillance of opioid prescribing and associated harms can direct quality improvement initiatives to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality."