Is Opioid Prescribing Driving Trauma Recidivism or Is Trauma Driving Opioid Use?

Is Opioid Prescribing Driving Trauma Recidivism or Is Trauma Driving Opioid Use?
Am Surg. 2019 Jun 01;85(6):567-571
Authors: Harmon L, Sukri L, Kufera JA, Nguyen A, Grunnagle M, Ramirez CL, Botwinick I, Cucher D, Feather CB, Scalea TM, Stein DM
Abstract
In the past 30 years, opioid prescription rates have quadrupled and hospital admissions for overdose are rising. Previous studies have focused on alcohol use and trauma recidivism, however rarely evaluating recidivism and opioid use. We hypothesized there is an association between opioid use and trauma recidivism. This is a retrospective review of patients with multiple admissions for traumatic injury. Demographics, opioid toxicology screen (TS) results, and injury characteristics were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-squared and Poisson regression models. One thousand six hundred forty-nine patients (age ≥18 years) had multiple trauma admissions. Seven hundred nine patients had TS data for both admissions. Thirty-one per cent (218) were TS positive on the 1st admission compared with 34 per cent (244) on their 2nd admission. Fifty-five per cent of patients who were TS positive on the 1st admission were positive on their 2nd admission, whereas 25 per cent who were TS negative on the 1st admission were subsequently positive on their 2nd admission (P < 0.0001). Patients who were TS positive on the subsequent admission were less severely injured than TS negative...

Source: The American Surgeon - May 31, 2019 Category: Surgery Authors: Harmon L, Sukri L, Kufera JA, Nguyen A, Grunnagle M, Ramirez CL, Botwinick I, Cucher D, Feather CB, Scalea TM, Stein DM Tags: Am Surg Source Type: research