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Persistent Opioid Use Among Pediatric Patients After Surgery
Calista M Harbaugh1, Jay S Lee1, Hsou Mei Hu2
1Sections of General Surgery.
Pediatrics
|December 6, 2017
Summary
Opioid use after surgery is common in young patients, with 4.8% experiencing persistent use. This highlights a potential pathway to prescription opioid misuse in adolescents and young adults.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Adolescent Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nonmedical opioid misuse remains a public health concern.
- Limited understanding of persistent opioid use post-surgery in young populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of prolonged opioid refills in adolescents and young adults after surgery.
- To compare persistent opioid use in surgical versus non-surgical patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using commercial claims data (2010-2014).
- Included opioid-naïve patients aged 13-21 undergoing specific surgeries.
- Defined persistent opioid use as ≥1 refill between 90-180 days post-procedure.
Main Results:
- 60.5% of eligible patients received postoperative opioids.
- Persistent opioid use occurred in 4.8% of surgical patients vs. 0.1% of non-surgical controls.
- Cholecystectomy and colectomy showed higher risks; older age, female sex, substance use disorder, and preoperative opioid use were risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Postoperative persistent opioid use is a significant concern in adolescents and young adults.
- This may be a critical pathway to prescription opioid misuse.
- Prioritizing safe, evidence-based pain management is crucial, especially for at-risk individuals.
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