@article{ref1,
title="Long-acting opioid initiation in US nursing homes",
journal="Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety",
year="2019",
author="Hunnicutt, Jacob N. and Hume, Anne L. and Ulbricht, Christine M. and Tjia, Jennifer and Lapane, Kate L.",
volume="28",
number="1",
pages="31-38",
abstract="PURPOSE: To estimate the proportion of residents newly initiating long-acting opioids in comparison to residents initiating short-acting opioids and examine variation in long-acting opioid initiation by region and resident characteristics. <br><br>METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 182 735 long-stay nursing home residents in 13 881 US nursing homes who were Medicare beneficiaries during 2011 to 2013 and initiated a short-acting or long-acting opioid (excluding residents <50 years old, those with cancer, or receiving hospice care). Medicare Part D prescription claims were used to identify residents as newly initiating short-acting or long-acting opioids, defined as having a prescription claim for an opioid with no prior opioid prescriptions in the preceding 60 days. We estimated the overall proportion of initiators prescribed long-acting opioids. Regional variation was examined by mapping results by state and hospital referral regions. Logistic models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). <br><br>RESULTS: Two percent of opioid initiators were prescribed long-acting opioids. State variation in long-acting opioid initiation ranged from 0.6% to 7.5% (5th-95th percentiles: 0.6-6.4%). Resident characteristics associated with increased long-acting opioid initiation included severe physical limitations (vs none/mild limitations; aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.92-2.37) and pain (staff-assessed vs no pain; aOR: 1.59 95% CI: 1.40-1.80), whereas being non-White was inversely associated (non-Hispanic black vs non-Hispanic white; aOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62-0.79). <br><br>CONCLUSION: United States nursing home residents predominantly initiate short-acting opioids in accordance with Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Documented variation by geographic and resident characteristics suggests that improvements are possible.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1053-8569",
doi="10.1002/pds.4568",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.4568"
}