Long-term opioid use and mortality in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: Ten-year follow-up study in South Korea from 2010 through 2019
In‐Ae Song, Hey‐Ran Choi, Tak Kyu Oh
Abstract
Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with long-term opioid use among patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Methods: We extracted data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database in South Korea. As a nationwide database, the NHIS database contains information regarding all disease diagnoses and prescriptions for any drug and/or procedures. A total of 2.5% of adult patients (≥20 years of age) who were diagnosed with musculoskeletal diseases and CNCP from 2010 to 2019 were selected using a stratified random sampling technique and included in the analysis. Patients who were prescribed opioids continuously for ≥90 days were classified as long-term opioid users. Findings: <0·001) higher than that in opioid-naive patients with CNCP. Interpretation: Long-term opioid use increased in patients with CNCP in South Korea from 2010 to 2019. Certain factors were potential risk factors for long-term opioid use. Moreover, long-term opioid use was associated with increased 10-year all-cause mortality among patients with CNCP. Funding: None.