Prevalence and correlates of high-dose opioid use among survivors of head and neck cancer.

Nugent SM, Slatore CG, Winchell K, Handley R, Clayburgh D, Chandra R, Hooker ER, Knight SJ, Morasco BJ. Prevalence and correlates of high-dose opioid use among survivors of head and neck cancer. Head & neck. 2023 Aug 1; 45(8):2058-2067.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• IIR 19-425 – Teachable Moment to Opt-out of Tobacco (TeaM OUT): A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Intervention

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions

Search for Abstract from PubMed

---

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: We characterized prescription opioid medication use up to 2?years following the head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and examined associations with moderate or high daily opioid prescription dose. METHODS: Using administrative data from Veterans Health Administration, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 5522 Veterans treated for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract between 2012 and 2019. Data included cancer diagnosis and treatments, pain severity, prescription opioid characteristics, demographics, and other clinical factors. RESULTS: Two years post-HNC, 7.8% (n? = 428) were receiving moderate or high-dose opioid therapy. Patients with at least moderate pain (18%, n? = 996) had 2.48 times higher odds (95% CI? = 1.94-3.09, p? < 0.001) to be prescribed a moderate opioid dose or higher at 2?years post diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of HNC with at least moderate pain were at elevated risk of continued use of moderate and high dose opioids.