Opioid Prescribing Patterns Before, During, and After Critical Illness: An Observational Study

The association between opioid therapy during critical illness and persistent opioid use after discharge is understudied relative to ICU opioid exposure and modifiable risk factors. Our objectives were to compare persistent opioid use after discharge among patients with and without chronic opioid use prior to admission (OPTA) and identify risk factors associated with persistent use.

Retrospective cohort study.

Medical, trauma/surgical, or neurologic ICU at an academic hospital.

Adult patients surviving hospital admission.

Opioid use during the ICU and post-ICU stays.

The primary outcome was persistent opioid use accounting for greater than 70% of days 4-6 months after discharge. Among 2,975 included patients, 257 (8.6%) were classified as OPTA, and 305 (10.2%) persistently filled opioid prescriptions, including 186/257 (72%) OPTA and 119/2,718 (4.4%) with no chronic opioid fills prior to admission. Among all patients, OPTA was strongly associated with persistent opioid use (odds ratio, 57.2 [95% CI, 41.4-80.0]). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that male sex, surgical procedure, and ICU opioid-free days were associated with reduced persistent opioid use for OPTA patients. Age and ICU opioid-free days were associated with reduced persistent opioid use for non-OPTA patients. Total ICU opioid dose and dose per day of ICU exposure were not associated with persistent use for either group.

In this mixed cohort of ICU patients, 10.2% persistently filled opioid prescriptions 4-6 months after discharge. Although ICU opioid doses were not associated with persistent use, duration of ICU opioid administration is a modifiable risk factor that may reduce persistent opioid use after critical illness.