Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
Published on: April 14, 2016
Development and validation of a predictive model for persistent opioid use in new opioid analgesic users via a
Yoojin Noh1, Kyu-Nam Heo2, Won Bean Cho3
1Pharmacy School, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Background:
Chronic opioid use is associated with problematic opioid use, such as opioid abuse. It is important to develop a prediction model for safe opioid use. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a risk score model for chronic opioid use in opioid-naïve, noncancer patients, using data from a nationwide database.
Methods:
Data from the National Health Insurance Claims Database in the Republic of Korea from 2016 to 2018 were used, and adult, noncancer patients who were started on non-injectable opioid analgesics (NIOAs) were included. The risk score model was developed using the β coefficient of each variable in the multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Results:
Overall, 676,676 noncancer patients were started on NIOAs, of which 65,877 (9.7%) were prescribed NIOAs chronically. Age, baseline healthcare utilization, comorbidities, co-medications, and pattern of first NIOA prescription were identified as risk factors for chronic opioid use. The c-static for the performance of our risk score model was 0.754 (95% confidence interval, 0.750-0.758).
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first tool that can predict chronic opioid use in the Korean population. The model can help physicians examine the risk of chronic opioid use by patients who are started on NIOA.
Related Concept Videos
Analgesia and Pain Management
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...

