Opioid Use Worsens Stroke Outcomes

Opioid abuse and dependence have a negative impact on patient outcomes—such as hospital length of stay (LOS) and health care costs—after a stroke, according to a new study.

These findings were presented on April 22, 2018, at the 2018 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California.
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For their study, the researchers identified 121,615 patients who were hospitalized for an ischemic stroke in 2014 and compared outcomes among patients with and without opioid dependence.

The association between opioid use and outcomes—such as discharge to a long-term facility, LOS, and total cost of charges—was examined using multiple linear regression and logistic regression. Results were adjusted for various factors.

Of 121,615 patients who were hospitalized for stroke, 369 had opioid dependence or abuse. Ultimately, the researchers found that the weighted mean LOS in patients with stroke and opioid abuse or dependence was 0.326 days, or 8 hours, longer than those without opioid abuse or dependence.

Furthermore, the weighted mean total cost of charges was $8170 for patients with opioid abuse or dependence compared with those without opioid abuse or dependence.

The odds ratio of discharge to a long-term facility (1.15) was found to be higher among those with opioid abuse or dependence vs those without opioid abuse or dependence.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Parand L, Ikram A, Zulfiqar M, Qaedan F, Owens T, Zafar A. Insight into the burden of opioids on stroke patient outcomes in the United States. Paper presented at: 2018 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 21-27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA. https://submissions.mirasmart.com/AAN2018/itinerary/SearchResultsProgram.asp