ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 474

Trends in the Use of Opiates in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Compared to Non-RA: A Population Based Study in 2003-2012

J.A. Zamora-Legoff1, Sara J. Achenbach2, Cynthia S. Crowson3, John M. Davis III1 and Eric L. Matteson4, 1Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 2Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 3Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 4Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Meeting: 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 29, 2015

Keywords: opioids, pain management and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2015

Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Clinical Aspects Poster I

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Opiates
are often used to treat difficult to manage pain, however, little is known
about the trends of use for opiates in a modern cohort of patients with rheumatoid
arthritis (RA). We aimed to evaluate the use of opiates in patients with RA
compared to non-RA subjects.   

Methods: Retrospective
prescription data was examined from 2003-2012 in well-defined population-based
incidence cohort of patients with RA by 1987 ACR criteria in 2003-2007 and age/sex
matched to non-RA subjects. Any opiate use was defined as one or more
prescriptions in the study period and chronic use was defined as 60 days or
more of prescribed opiates (at usual dose and usual schedule) in a 6 month
period; or those subjects using fentanyl, methadone and controlled/sustained
release oxycodone. Disease severity indicators used were RF/ACPA positivity, rheumatoid
nodules and erosions in the first year, male sex, and ESR values. Poisson
models and age and sex adjusted Cox models were used to examine differences in
opiate use between the cohorts.

Results: A total of 404
subjects (202 pairs; 69%female) were included in the study with a mean age of
55 ± 15.7 and a mean follow-up date of 6.5 ± 2.4 years. The most frequently
prescribed opiate in our study was oxycodone (40%) followed by hydrocodone
(20%).

Opiate use (any) was high in both
cohorts (35% RA vs 20% non-RA in 2012). Patients with RA had a 54% higher rate
of opiate use compared to non-RA subjects (rate ratio {RR}: 1.54; 95%
confidence interval {CI}: 1.36, 1.74; Fig. 1a). Chronic opiate use was also
common in both cohorts (11% RA vs 7% non-RA in 2012). Patients with RA had a
70% higher rate of chronic opiate use (RR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.53) compared
to non-RA subjects (Fig. 1b).

The rate of chronic opiate use
increased in both cohorts by 11% per year with no apparent difference in time
trends between the cohorts (interaction p=0.46). Women in both cohorts were
more likely to be chronic opiate users than men (Hazard ratio [HR]: 1.82; 95%
CI: 1.01-3.29). Compared to non-RA subjects, chronic opiate use was higher in
younger patients with RA (age 18-49; 3.4% RA vs. 0.5% non-RA), we saw no
difference in those over 65 years of age (interaction p=0.007), and a numerically
intermediate risk in those 50 to 64. The only marker of disease severity and
chronic opiate use was presence of rheumatoid nodules (HR: 1.95; 95% CI:
1.00-3.81).

Conclusion: Opiate use is
common. Throughout the study period, rates of any opiate use remained stable
but were always significantly higher in patients with RA than those without RA.
However, rates of chronic opiate use increased in both cohorts over time and
were consistently higher in patients with RA, especially among younger patients
and women. In RA, opiate use was generally not related to disease severity
indicators suggesting an alternate pain generating pathway.


Disclosure: J. A. Zamora-Legoff, None; S. J. Achenbach, None; C. S. Crowson, None; J. M. Davis III, None; E. L. Matteson, Novartis/Sanofi/Centocor-Jansen/Celgene/Amgen/Roche/Genentech/Mesoblast/Pfizer, 2.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Zamora-Legoff JA, Achenbach SJ, Crowson CS, Davis JM III, Matteson EL. Trends in the Use of Opiates in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Compared to Non-RA: A Population Based Study in 2003-2012 [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/trends-in-the-use-of-opiates-in-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra-compared-to-non-ra-a-population-based-study-in-2003-2012/. Accessed .
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/trends-in-the-use-of-opiates-in-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra-compared-to-non-ra-a-population-based-study-in-2003-2012/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology