The percentage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) chronically using opioids in the USA has risen from 7.4% in 2002 to 16.9% in 2015, according to self-reported usage data from 33,739 patients in the CORRONA registry. Opioid usage was deemed chronic if reported in patient questionnaires at ≥2 consecutive rheumatology clinic visits. Factors associated with an increased risk of incident chronic opioid use in patients with RA included severe pain (HR 2.53, 95% CI 2.19–2.92), antidepressant use (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.64–1.92), a high degree of disease activity (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.30–1.84) and a high degree of disability (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.27–1.65).
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Lee, Y. C. et al. Chronic opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: prevalence and predictors. Arthritis Rheumatol. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40789 (2018)
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Collison, J. Chronic opioid usage on the rise in RA. Nat Rev Rheumatol 15, 2 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0144-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0144-z
