{"paper_id":"a7b9b1a6-870c-4c70-9ae0-c12f3f5c7314","body_text":"Risk of Chronic Opioid Use Among Women With Endometriosis [16M]\n- Stephanie E. Chiuve\n- Ryan D. Kilpatrick\n- Natalia Petruski-Ivleva\n- Lani R. Wegrzyn\n- Michael C. Snabes\n- Brian T. Bateman\nINTRODUCTION:\nWomen with endometriosis may be prescribed opioids for management of endometriosis-related pain symptoms or in the context of surgical procedures. Once exposed, these women may be vulnerable to chronic opioid use given their comorbidity profile.\nMETHODS:\nWomen with an initial claim for endometriosis (N=37,142) and women without (N=2,596,871), aged 18-50, were identified from a US commercial insurance claims database and followed for 2 years. Chronic opioid use was defined as ≥10 fills or ≥-120 days covered over 1 year. Regression models estimated the association between endometriosis and chronic opioid use, and sequelae of chronic use among women with endometriosis.\nRESULTS:\nThe 2-year risk of chronic opioid use was 4.4% in women with endometriosis and 1.1% in women without. The relative risk (RR) for chronic opioid use in women with endometriosis v. without was 2.11 (95% CI 2.00-2.23) controlling for demographics, pain, mental health comorbidities, substance abuse, use of benzodiazepine, stimulants, antipsychotic medications and prior opioids. Among women with endometriosis, the median dose per fill increased by 50% over 2 years among chronic opioid users and 0% among non-chronic users. Chronic opioid use among women with endometriosis was associated with higher risk of an opioid dependence diagnosis (RR 8.52; 95% CI 6.67-10.9), overdose (RR 3.97; 95% CI 1.90-8.30), altered mental status (RR 2.92; 95% CI 2.16-3.93), falls (RR 2.43; 95% CI 2.02-2.92) and constipation (RR 1.87; 95% CI 1.71-2.05).\nCONCLUSION:\nWomen with endometriosis have a greater risk of chronic opioid use and its sequelae. Physicians should consider the consequences of opioid prescribing for endometriosis-associated pain.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}