Opioid Prescriptions for New Low Back Pain: Trends and Variability by State

摘要: BACKGROUND The United States is facing a widespread opioid epidemic that disproportionately affects the working-age population. In clinical setting, new low back pain one of most common reasons for prescriptions, despite national recommendations advising against their use until nonopioid treatments have been trialed. this study, we aimed to examine prescribing practices among primary care physicians after evaluation in patients. METHOD This study used claims database's billing codes identify patients outpatient setting with encounter isolated following 1-year look-back period. outcome was whether an prescription filled within 30 days encounter. Patients daily morphine milligram equivalence (MME/day) known be associated higher risk overdose were also analyzed. RESULTS A total 418,565 between January 1, 2011 and November 30, 2016 included. proportion prescriptions declined significantly (P < .01; 28.5% 2011, 27.6% 2012, 26.3% 2013, 25.5% 2014, 23.5% 2015, 20.4% 2016). Nationally, varied states .01), ranging from 12.9% Hawaii 33.6% Arkansas. DISCUSSION We found overall frequency decreasing nationally, which speaks favorably future initiatives change physician patterns. However, identified there large variation patterns different states.