Study: Prevalence of preop opioid use and patient characteristics

Editor's Note

In this study of 34,186 surgical patients in the University of Michigan Health System, 23.1% were taking opioids preoperatively, and the use of opioids was associated with a more negative medical and pain profile.

Patient age, tobacco use, illicit drug use, higher pain severity, depression, higher Fibromyalgia Survey scores, lower life satisfaction, and more comorbidities were independently associated with preoperative opioid use.

Use was most commonly reported by patients having orthopedic and neurosurgical spinal procedures and least common in those having thoracic procedures.

The findings provide important insights into this patient population that could help guide future preoperative optimization and perioperative opioid-weaning interventions, the researchers concluded.