Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use

Objective This study examined the association of initial provider treatment with early and long-term opioid use in a national sample of patients with new-onset low back pain (LBP).Design A retrospective cohort study of patients with new-onset LBP from 2008 to 2013.Setting The study evaluated outpati...

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Main Authors: Lewis E Kazis, Omid Ameli, James Rothendler, Brigid Garrity, Howard Cabral, Christine McDonough, Kathleen Carey, Michael Stein, Darshak Sanghavi, David Elton, Julie Fritz, Robert Saper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-09-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e028633.full
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author Lewis E Kazis
Omid Ameli
James Rothendler
Brigid Garrity
Howard Cabral
Christine McDonough
Kathleen Carey
Michael Stein
Darshak Sanghavi
David Elton
Julie Fritz
Robert Saper
author_facet Lewis E Kazis
Omid Ameli
James Rothendler
Brigid Garrity
Howard Cabral
Christine McDonough
Kathleen Carey
Michael Stein
Darshak Sanghavi
David Elton
Julie Fritz
Robert Saper
author_sort Lewis E Kazis
collection DOAJ
description Objective This study examined the association of initial provider treatment with early and long-term opioid use in a national sample of patients with new-onset low back pain (LBP).Design A retrospective cohort study of patients with new-onset LBP from 2008 to 2013.Setting The study evaluated outpatient and inpatient claims from patient visits, pharmacy claims and inpatient and outpatient procedures with initial providers seen for new-onset LBP.Participants 216 504 individuals aged 18 years or older across the USA who were diagnosed with new-onset LBP and were opioid-naïve were included. Participants had commercial or Medicare Advantage insurance.Exposures The primary independent variable is type of initial healthcare provider including physicians and conservative therapists (physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists).Main outcome measures Short-term opioid use (within 30 days of the index visit) following new LBP visit and long-term opioid use (starting within 60 days of the index date and either 120 or more days’ supply of opioids over 12 months, or 90 days or more supply of opioids and 10 or more opioid prescriptions over 12 months).Results Short-term use of opioids was 22%. Patients who received initial treatment from chiropractors or physical therapists had decreased odds of short-term and long-term opioid use compared with those who received initial treatment from primary care physicians (PCPs) (adjusted OR (AOR) (95% CI) 0.10 (0.09 to 0.10) and 0.15 (0.13 to 0.17), respectively). Compared with PCP visits, initial chiropractic and physical therapy also were associated with decreased odds of long-term opioid use in a propensity score matched sample (AOR (95% CI) 0.21 (0.16 to 0.27) and 0.29 (0.12 to 0.69), respectively).Conclusions Initial visits to chiropractors or physical therapists is associated with substantially decreased early and long-term use of opioids. Incentivising use of conservative therapists may be a strategy to reduce risks of early and long-term opioid use.
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spelling doaj-art-b7e6c6dda63e4a1aada1d841a57b81e62025-08-20T02:32:57ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-09-019910.1136/bmjopen-2018-028633Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid useLewis E Kazis0Omid Ameli1James Rothendler2Brigid Garrity3Howard Cabral4Christine McDonough5Kathleen Carey6Michael Stein7Darshak Sanghavi8David Elton9Julie Fritz10Robert Saper11Center for the Assessment of Pharmaceutical Practices and Pharmaceutical Assessment, Management and Policy Program, Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USAOptum Center for Research and Innovation, Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA1 Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA1 Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA4 University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA1 Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA1 Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA2 OptumLabs, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA5 OptumHealth, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA1 Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA7 Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts, USAObjective This study examined the association of initial provider treatment with early and long-term opioid use in a national sample of patients with new-onset low back pain (LBP).Design A retrospective cohort study of patients with new-onset LBP from 2008 to 2013.Setting The study evaluated outpatient and inpatient claims from patient visits, pharmacy claims and inpatient and outpatient procedures with initial providers seen for new-onset LBP.Participants 216 504 individuals aged 18 years or older across the USA who were diagnosed with new-onset LBP and were opioid-naïve were included. Participants had commercial or Medicare Advantage insurance.Exposures The primary independent variable is type of initial healthcare provider including physicians and conservative therapists (physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists).Main outcome measures Short-term opioid use (within 30 days of the index visit) following new LBP visit and long-term opioid use (starting within 60 days of the index date and either 120 or more days’ supply of opioids over 12 months, or 90 days or more supply of opioids and 10 or more opioid prescriptions over 12 months).Results Short-term use of opioids was 22%. Patients who received initial treatment from chiropractors or physical therapists had decreased odds of short-term and long-term opioid use compared with those who received initial treatment from primary care physicians (PCPs) (adjusted OR (AOR) (95% CI) 0.10 (0.09 to 0.10) and 0.15 (0.13 to 0.17), respectively). Compared with PCP visits, initial chiropractic and physical therapy also were associated with decreased odds of long-term opioid use in a propensity score matched sample (AOR (95% CI) 0.21 (0.16 to 0.27) and 0.29 (0.12 to 0.69), respectively).Conclusions Initial visits to chiropractors or physical therapists is associated with substantially decreased early and long-term use of opioids. Incentivising use of conservative therapists may be a strategy to reduce risks of early and long-term opioid use.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e028633.full
spellingShingle Lewis E Kazis
Omid Ameli
James Rothendler
Brigid Garrity
Howard Cabral
Christine McDonough
Kathleen Carey
Michael Stein
Darshak Sanghavi
David Elton
Julie Fritz
Robert Saper
Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
BMJ Open
title Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
title_full Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
title_fullStr Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
title_full_unstemmed Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
title_short Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use
title_sort observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new onset low back pain with early and long term opioid use
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e028633.full
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