Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy
Che Suraya Zin,1 Nor Elina Alias,1 Nor Hidayah Taufek,1 Mazlila Meor Ahmad21Kulliyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia; 2Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaPurpose: This s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pain Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/sex-differences-in-high-opioid-dose-escalation-among-malaysian-patient-peer-reviewed-article-JPR |
| _version_ | 1819169305019809792 |
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| author | Zin CS Alias NE Taufek NH Ahmad MM |
| author_facet | Zin CS Alias NE Taufek NH Ahmad MM |
| author_sort | Zin CS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Che Suraya Zin,1 Nor Elina Alias,1 Nor Hidayah Taufek,1 Mazlila Meor Ahmad21Kulliyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia; 2Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaPurpose: This study evaluated the risk of opioid dose escalation as it relates to sex differences among patients receiving opioids for long-term therapy.Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in tertiary hospital settings in Malaysia using electronic prescription records. Opioid naïve patients, aged ≥18 years, who were undergoing long-term opioid therapy of ≥90 days, with at least one opioid prescription (buprenorphine, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, dihydrocodeine or tramadol) between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2016, were included in the study. They were followed until (i) the end of the study period, (ii) death from any cause or (iii) discontinuation of therapy from their first opioid prescription without any intervals of ≥120 days between successive prescriptions. The risk of high opioid dose escalation to ≥100 mg/day and ≥200 mg/day relative to men and women was measured.Results: A total of 4688 patients (58.8% women, 41.3% men) on long-term opioid therapy were identified. Among these patients, 248 (5.29%) were escalated to high opioid doses of ≥100 mg/day and 69 (1.47%) were escalated to ≥200 mg/day. The escalation to high-dose opioid therapy was more likely to occur in men than in women, even after adjustment for age (dose ≥100 mg/day [adjusted hazard ratio 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.79 to 3.00; p<0.0001] and ≥200 mg/day [adjusted hazard ratio 6.10; 95% CI, 3.39 to 10.98; p<0.0001]).Conclusion: The risk of opioid dose escalation differed between men and women, as men were at higher risk than women for high opioid dose escalation.Keywords: opioids, dose escalation, opioid prescribing, male patient, female patient |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:17:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39f80368a22542918b1339b34cf8b8af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-7090 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:17:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pain Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-39f80368a22542918b1339b34cf8b8af2022-12-21T18:15:29ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902019-04-01Volume 121251125745244Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapyZin CSAlias NETaufek NHAhmad MMChe Suraya Zin,1 Nor Elina Alias,1 Nor Hidayah Taufek,1 Mazlila Meor Ahmad21Kulliyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia; 2Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaPurpose: This study evaluated the risk of opioid dose escalation as it relates to sex differences among patients receiving opioids for long-term therapy.Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in tertiary hospital settings in Malaysia using electronic prescription records. Opioid naïve patients, aged ≥18 years, who were undergoing long-term opioid therapy of ≥90 days, with at least one opioid prescription (buprenorphine, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, dihydrocodeine or tramadol) between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2016, were included in the study. They were followed until (i) the end of the study period, (ii) death from any cause or (iii) discontinuation of therapy from their first opioid prescription without any intervals of ≥120 days between successive prescriptions. The risk of high opioid dose escalation to ≥100 mg/day and ≥200 mg/day relative to men and women was measured.Results: A total of 4688 patients (58.8% women, 41.3% men) on long-term opioid therapy were identified. Among these patients, 248 (5.29%) were escalated to high opioid doses of ≥100 mg/day and 69 (1.47%) were escalated to ≥200 mg/day. The escalation to high-dose opioid therapy was more likely to occur in men than in women, even after adjustment for age (dose ≥100 mg/day [adjusted hazard ratio 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.79 to 3.00; p<0.0001] and ≥200 mg/day [adjusted hazard ratio 6.10; 95% CI, 3.39 to 10.98; p<0.0001]).Conclusion: The risk of opioid dose escalation differed between men and women, as men were at higher risk than women for high opioid dose escalation.Keywords: opioids, dose escalation, opioid prescribing, male patient, female patienthttps://www.dovepress.com/sex-differences-in-high-opioid-dose-escalation-among-malaysian-patient-peer-reviewed-article-JPROpioidsdose escalationopioid prescribingManWoman |
| spellingShingle | Zin CS Alias NE Taufek NH Ahmad MM Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy Journal of Pain Research Opioids dose escalation opioid prescribing Man Woman |
| title | Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| title_full | Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| title_short | Sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among Malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| title_sort | sex differences in high opioid dose escalation among malaysian patients with long term opioid therapy |
| topic | Opioids dose escalation opioid prescribing Man Woman |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/sex-differences-in-high-opioid-dose-escalation-among-malaysian-patient-peer-reviewed-article-JPR |
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