Opioid Utilization Following Endometriosis Diagnosis: Retrospective Analysis of More Than 100,000 Women [17J]

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecologic disorder associated with several pain symptoms. This research evaluated opioids utilization following endometriosis diagnosis. METHODS: Women aged 18 to 49 who had one inpatient or 2 outpatient claims with endometriosis ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis codes (617.x or N80.x) between 2013 and 2016 were selected from Symphony Health Claims database. Study sample included women who were not diagnosed with cancer and had continuous medical and pharmacy plan eligibility (at least one pharmacy claim activity per quarter) in 12 months before and after their earliest recorded diagnosis for endometriosis (index date). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the following outcomes in the post-index period (12-months following index date): proportion of women receiving an opioid prescription, number of opioids prescriptions, days of opioids supply, prescriber specialty and opioid initiation and its relationship to receiving surgeries. RESULTS: Final analysis included 114,151 patients. Average age at index date was 36.7 (7.9) years. In the post-index period, 60.8% of patient received an opioid prescription. Among opioid users, mean number of opioids prescriptions received was 4.6 (6.7), average days of opioids supply was 64.1 (128.6) and the proportion of patients who received 90+ days of opioid supply were 18.1%. Top physician specialties prescribing opioids were Obstetrics/Gynecologists (27.6%), family practice (23.4%) and internal medicine (9.2%). Among opioids initiators (27%), 2.8% received 90+days of opioids supply and 75.7% had an endometriosis-related surgery in the post-index period. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of women diagnosed with endometriosis used opioids following endometriosis diagnosis.