O128 Time trends in opioid prescribing after discharge following colectomy in England: a cross-sectional study

Baamer, R.; Humes, D.J.; Toh, L.; Knaggs, R.; Lobo, D.N.

Abstract

Introduction Opioid prescribing patterns after discharge following colectomy within a population from England are not well characterised. This study aimed to report changes in opioid prescribing prevalence, formulation choices and opioid analgesics over time. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included people undergoing colectomy between 2010 and 2019 using primary (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) and linked secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics) data. The prevalence of initial opioid prescription within 90 days of surgical discharge was calculated, and prescription characteristics in terms of analgesics and formulation were described. Trend analysis was performed using the Cochran Armitage test, and percentage change between 2010 and 2019 was tested using univariate logistic regression. Results Of the 95,155 individuals undergoing colectomy within the study period, 15,503 (16.3%) received opioid prescriptions. There was a decreasing trend in the prevalence of post-discharge opioids for opioid naïve people (P<0.001), with a decrease from 11.4% in 2010 to 6.7% in 2019 (-41.3%, p<0.001). Whereas the prevalence remained stable for patients prescribed opioids prior to surgery (p=0.637). The prescribing of immediate release formulations decreased from 86% in 2010 to 82% in 2019 (-4.65%). Codeine represented 44.5% of all prescriptions and prescribing increased by 14.5% between 2010 and 2019. Moreover, morphine and oxycodone prescriptions rose significantly by 76.6% and 131%, respectively, while tramadol prescribing dropped by 48%. Conclusion This study identified a changing pattern of opioid prescribing following colectomy, with prescribing prevalence decreasing for opioid naïve people. Trends suggested decreased tramadol prescribing, but a shift toward increasing codeine, oxycodone and morphine prescriptions.

Citation

Baamer, R., Humes, D., Toh, L., Knaggs, R., & Lobo, D. (2023). O128 Time trends in opioid prescribing after discharge following colectomy in England: a cross-sectional study. British Journal of Surgery, 110(Supplement 3), Article znad101.128. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znad101.128

• Journal Article Type: Meeting Abstract
• Acceptance Date: Feb 19, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 10, 2023
• Publication Date: May 10, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 11, 2024
• Journal: British Journal of Surgery
• Print ISSN: 0007-1323
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2168
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 110
• Issue: Supplement 3
• Article Number: znad101.128
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znad101.128
• Keywords: Surgery
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21098129
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/bjs/article/110/Supplement_3/znad101.128/7158970
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in BJS following peer review. The version of record R Baamer and others, O128 Time trends in opioid prescribing after discharge following colectomy in england: a cross-sectional study, British Journal of Surgery, Volume 110, Issue Supplement_3, May 2023, znad101.128 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znad101.128