Work

Opioid use and the presence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among elderly Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic pain conditions

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction There is scant literature on the use of opioids among community‐dwelling elderly with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Methods We adopted a retrospective, cross‐sectional study design using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 2006 to 2013. The study sample included elderly community‐dwelling Medicare beneficiaries who were diagnosed with chronic pain conditions and had Medicare fee‐for‐service plans for the entire year. We conducted bivariate χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationship between opioid use and ADRD status. Results The study sample included 19,347 Medicare beneficiaries; 7.7% of them had ADRD. We found no statistically significant difference in opioid use by ADRD status in the unadjusted analysis; however, controlling for various factors, those with ADRD had lower odds of opioid use (adjusted odds ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval = 0.71, 0.93) than those without ADRD. Discussion This population‐based study suggests that elderly Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD and chronic pain conditions may have undertreatment of pain.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions

DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2018.10.012

Authors: Chan Shen, Xiaohui Zhao, Nilanjana Dwibedi, R. Constance Wiener, Patricia A. Findley, Usha Sambamoorthi

Institutions: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Language: English

Topic: Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,540