AUTHOR=Kendzerska Tetyana , Malhotra Atul , Gershon Andrea S. , Povitz Marcus , McIsaac Daniel I. , Aaron Shawn D. , Bryson Gregory L. , Talarico Robert , Godbout Michael , Tanuseputro Peter , Chung Frances 

TITLE=Association between opioid prescription profiles and adverse health outcomes in opioid users referred for sleep disorder assessment: a secondary analysis of health administrative data

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sleep

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sleep/articles/10.3389/frsle.2023.1161857

DOI=10.3389/frsle.2023.1161857

ISSN=2813-2890

ABSTRACT=Background: Information is needed to guide safe opioid prescribing in adults referred for a sleep disorder assessment. Previous studies have shown that individuals referred for a sleep disorder assessment have a higher likelihood of long-acting opioids and higher opioid dosages prescription than the general population, suggesting that these individuals are more at risk for opioid-related adverse health consequences.    
Methods: We included all adults who underwent a diagnostic sleep study (index date) in Ontario, Canada, between 2013 and 2016 (n=300,663) and filled an opioid prescription overlapping the index date (n=15,713). Through provincial health administrative databases, individuals were followed over time to assess the association between opioid use characteristics and one-year all-cause mortality, hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits, and opioid-related hospitalizations and ED visits within extended follow-up to 2018. 
Results: Controlling for covariates, chronic opioid use (vs. not) was significantly associated with increased hazards of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-3.02), hospitalization (aHR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02-1.28) and ED visit (aHR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01-1.17). A higher opioid dosage (morphine equivalent daily dose [MED] >90 vs. ≤90 mg/day) was significantly associated with increased hazards of all-cause or opioid-related hospitalization (aHR:1.13; 95% CI: 1.02-1.26 and aHR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.53-3.37, respectively). Morphine or hydromorphone prescription (vs. oxycodone) was significantly associated with an increased hazard of all-cause hospitalization (aHR: 1.30; 1.07-1.59 and aHR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.20-1.70, respectively). Hydromorphone or fentanyl prescription (vs. oxycodone) was significantly associated with an increased hazard of opioid-related ED visit and/or hospitalization (aHR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.16-4.47 and aHR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.16-5.26, respectively).
Conclusion: Findings from this retrospective study may inform the safe prescribing of opioids in adults referred for a sleep disorder assessment.