--- title: "Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: community health system | Sutter Health" description: "Opioid prescribing to pts with chronic pain varied by type & number of pain conditions. Such Rx's to men, those with back pain, & Medicaid recipients were high." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/opiod-prescribing-chronic-pain-community-health-1055312298" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: community health system # Opioid prescribing for chronic pain in a community-based healthcare system. Romanelli RJ, Ikeda LI, Lynch B, Craig T, Cappelleri JC, Jukes T, & Ishisaka DY. _Am J Manag Care. 23(5):e138-e145._ 2017-05-01 ## Abstract OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate opioid prescribing in an ambulatory setting among patients with noncancer chronic pain (CP). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. METHODS: We identified patients with at least 2 CP encounters at least 30 days apart in 2012 in the electronic health records of a community-based healthcare delivery system in northern California. We used logistic regression models to assess associations of receiving an opioid prescription with respect to number and type of CP conditions and patient demographics and characteristics. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the adjusted prevalence of receiving an opioid prescription were generated after controlling for important covariates. RESULTS: A total of 120,481 patients with CP met eligibility criteria, with 58% receiving an opioid in 2012. The adjusted prevalence of receiving an opioid was highest for back/cervical pain (71%). The odds of receiving an opioid increased linearly with the number of CP conditions per patient (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.25-1.33; P <.001). Men were generally more likely to receive an opioid than women, as were patients with noncommercial insurance, especially Medicaid (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.56-3.01; P <.001) versus commercial. CONCLUSIONS: In an ambulatory healthcare setting, opioid prescribing to patients with CP varied by type and number of pain conditions. Opioid prescriptions to men, those with back/cervical pain, and Medicaid beneficiaries were particularly prevalent. The identification of populations more likely to receive an opioid in the treatment of CP should be of interest to healthcare systems to ensure these drugs are being used appropriately and safely. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28810129) ## Research topics - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Health Disparities](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Disparities%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Medical Informatics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Medical+Informatics%5C%22%22) - [Men's Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Men%27s+Health%5C%22%22) - [Musculoskeletal Disorders](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Musculoskeletal+Disorders%5C%22%22) - [Pain](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Pain%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Patient characteristics and healthcare utilization of a chronic pain population within an integrated healthcare system.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pt-characteristics-healthcare-use-chronic-pain-1055312340) Romanelli RJ, Shah SN, Ikeda L, Lynch B, Craig TL, Cappelleri JC, Jukes T, Ishisaka D. Am J Manag Care. 23(2):e50-e56. 2017 Feb 01 - Publication ### [Racial and ethnic disparities in opioid prescribing for long bone fractures at discharge from the emergency department: a cross-sectional analysis of 22 centers from a health care delivery system in Northern California.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/racial-disparities-opiod-prescribing-for-fractures-in-ed-1055312717) Romanelli RJ, Shen Z, Szwerinski N, Scott A, Lockhart S, Pressman AR. Ann Emerg Med. pii: S0196-0644(19)30417-2. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.05.018. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Patterns of health care utilization for low back pain.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/health-care-utilization-in-low-back-pain-1055312713) Stewart WF, Yan X, Boscarino JA, Maeng DD, Mardekian J, Sanchez RJ, Von Korff MR. J Pain Res. 8:523-35. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S83599. eCollection 2015. 2015 Aug 12 - Publication ### [HOMBRE: A randomized controlled trial to compare two approaches to weight loss for overweight and obese Latino men (men with choices to improve well-being and decrease chronic disease risk).](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/hombre-rct-weight-loss-approaches-latino-men-1055312293) Rosas LG, Lv N, Azar KMJ, Xiao L, Hooker SP, Lewis MA, Zavella P, Venditti EM, Ma J. Contemp Clin Trials. pii: S1551-7144(17)30629-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.02.019. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2018 Mar 02 - Publication ### [Virtual small groups for weight management: an innovative delivery mechanism for evidence-based lifestyle interventions among obese men.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/virtual-small-groups-weight-mgmt-in-obese-men-1055312966) Azar KM, Aurora M, Wang EJ, Muzaffar A, Pressman A, Palaniappan LP. Transl Behav Med. 5(1):37-44. doi: 10.1007/s13142-014-0296-6. 2015 Mar 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/opiod-prescribing-chronic-pain-community-health-1055312298#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: community health system"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/opiod-prescribing-chronic-pain-community-health-1055312298#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Opioid prescribing for chronic pain in a community-based healthcare system.","headline":"Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: community health system","abstract":"OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate opioid prescribing in an ambulatory setting among patients with noncancer chronic pain (CP). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. METHODS: We identified patients with at least 2 CP encounters at least 30 days apart in 2012 in the electronic health records of a community-based healthcare delivery system in northern California. We used logistic regression models to assess associations of receiving an opioid prescription with respect to number and type of CP conditions and patient demographics and characteristics. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the adjusted prevalence of receiving an opioid prescription were generated after controlling for important covariates. RESULTS: A total of 120,481 patients with CP met eligibility criteria, with 58% receiving an opioid in 2012. The adjusted prevalence of receiving an opioid was highest for back/cervical pain (71%). The odds of receiving an opioid increased linearly with the number of CP conditions per patient (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.25-1.33; P \u003c.001). Men were generally more likely to receive an opioid than women, as were patients with noncommercial insurance, especially Medicaid (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.56-3.01; P \u003c.001) versus commercial. CONCLUSIONS: In an ambulatory healthcare setting, opioid prescribing to patients with CP varied by type and number of pain conditions. Opioid prescriptions to men, those with back/cervical pain, and Medicaid beneficiaries were particularly prevalent. The identification of populations more likely to receive an opioid in the treatment of CP should be of interest to healthcare systems to ensure these drugs are being used appropriately and safely.","description":"Opioid prescribing to pts with chronic pain varied by type & number of pain conditions. 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