Journal of Pain Research (Nov 2023)
Opioids Prescribing Among Patients with Zoster-Related Pain in Real-Life: A Retrospective, Cohort Study Based on the Clinical Database
Abstract
Wei Su,1,2 Dong Liu,2 Pingliang Yang,3 Ling Ye1 1Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pain Management, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610011, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ling Ye, Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-28-85423593, Email [email protected]: The aim of this study was to analysis of the opioid use of opioid native zoster-related pain (ZRP) patients to evaluate the impact of opioid use on pain control and quality of life improvement based on the clinical database.Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify opioid native patients who were hospitalized in the pain department between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021. The primary outcomes were persistent opioid use after discharge, visual analogue scale (VAS) at the admission, VAS remission rate during hospitalization, VAS score and quality of life at follow-up. Then, we assessed patient-level risk factors for persistent opioid use after the discharge.Results: A total of 350 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of those patients, 255 (72.9%) were administered with opioid during hospitalization, and 95 (27.1%) patients were not. Opioid prescription during hospitalization was independently associated with increased odds of persistent use after the discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 20.74; 95% CI, 4.504– 95.474; P < 0.01). In the two groups, the VAS score at admission and the VAS score at follow-up were different. In the group with opioids during hospitalization, the persistent opioid use after discharge was more common (38% vs 2.1%) compared to patients without opioids, and VAS remission rate during hospitalization was less, restrictions on daily life, work or housework, and social activities were more common, and mood, diet and sleep were worse, respectively.Conclusion: Opioids prescription during hospitalization might increase the risk of chronic opioid use in opioid native ZRP patients, and it has limited benefits in pain control and quality of life improvement. Even though PHN was painful and intractable, the use of opioids should also be more cautious, and strict follow-up, management in this population.Keywords: opioids, persistent opioid use after discharge, real-life, zoster-related pain, postherpetic neuralgia
