9.1% of NZ patients continued opioid use 3 months post-surgery, with weak opioids leading to dependency, especially in older patients with reduced kidney function; codeine and tramadol most prescribed.
9.1% of patients in New Zealand continued to use opioids three months after surgery, according to research by the University of Auckland. Analyzing 260,000 hospital admissions between 2007 and 2019, the study found that weak opioids can still lead to dependency, especially in older people with reduced kidney function. Codeine and tramadol were identified as the most prescribed opioids in New Zealand, and the research calls for further investigation into the reasons behind the increase in opioid prescriptions. Factors associated with persistent opioid use include higher opioid doses, multiple types of opioids, changing to different opioids within the first 90 days after discharge, and being prescribed non-opioid pain relief post-surgery.
March 17, 2024
6 Articles