Opioid Treatment for Adults With and Without Systemic Autoimmune/Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: Analysis of 2006–2019 United States National Data

Objectives

This study compared opioid prescribing among ambulatory visits with systemic autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (SARDs) or without and assessed factors associated with opioid prescribing in SARDs.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 2006 and 2019. Adult (≥18 years) visits with a primary diagnosis of SARDs, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus were included in the study. Opioid prescribing was compared between those with vs without SARDs using multivariable logistic regression accounting for the complex survey design and adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors within Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Another multivariable logistic regression examined the predictors associated with opioid prescribing in SARDs.

Results

Annually, an average of 5.20 million (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.58–6.82) visits were made for SARDs, whereas 780.14 million (95% CI 747.56–812.72) visits were made for non-SARDs. The SARDs group was more likely to be prescribed opioids (22.53%) than the non-SARDs group (9.83%) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.65; 95% CI 1.68–4.18). Among the SARDs visits, patient age from 50 to 64 (aOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.05–3.65 relative to ages 18–49) and prescribing of glucocorticoids (aOR 1.75; 95% CI 1.20–2.54) were associated with an increased odd of opioid prescribing, whereas private insurance relative to Medicare (aOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31–0.82) was associated with a decreased odds of opioid prescribing.

Conclusion

Opioid prescribing in SARDs was higher compared to non-SARDs. Concerted efforts are needed to determine the appropriateness of opioid prescribing in SARDs.