194Background: Opioids are used to manage moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and non-cancer pain. Limited data exist comparing opioid utilization patterns between these two patient populations. Methods:… Click to show full abstract
194Background: Opioids are used to manage moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and non-cancer pain. Limited data exist comparing opioid utilization patterns between these two patient populations. Methods: This retrospective, commercial administrative claims database analysis (HealthCore Integrated Research Environment) investigated opioid use patterns, including opioid dose escalation, in adult patients with cancer-related (CP) and non-cancer-related pain (NCP). Adults (age ≥18 years) with at least one pharmacy claim for an opioid between July 1, 2006, and September 30, 2014, were identified (index date). Patients selected for analysis had to have continuous plan eligibility for 6 months pre- and 12 months post-index date and opioid use for at least 4 weeks. Patients with opioid use related to cancer pain were identified by a medical claim for a cancer diagnosis coded within 30 days prior to the index opioid date. Results: A total of 9,209 patients with CP and 409,703 patients with NCP were ana...
               
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