Citation

Nkyekyer EW, Fulton-Kehoe D, Spector J, Franklin G. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2018; 60(9): 820-826.

Affiliation

Attending Physician, Clinical Instructor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Washington, 325 9th Avenue, Box 359739, Seattle, WA 98104 (Nkyekyer); Senior Research Scientist, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Box 359116, Seattle WA 98195-9116 (Fulton-Kehoe); Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Division of General Internal Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357234, Seattle WA, 98195-7234 (Spector); and Research Professor, Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Health Services, School of Public Health, and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 359116, Seattle WA 98195-9116 (Franklin).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001346

PMID

29668527

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterize pre-injury prescription opioid and benzodiazepine use and its relationship with post-injury use and missed work among workers.

METHODS: 313,543 Washington State Department of Labor and Industries workers' compensation injury claims from 2012-2015 were linked with State Prescription Monitoring Program data. Pre-injury prevalence of opioid and benzodiazepine use were compared between compensable and non-compensable claims, and between workers with and without post-injury prescriptions, using the Pearson Chi-Square test.

RESULTS: The prevalence of opioid or benzodiazepine use in the 90 days before injury was 8.6% and 2.9%, respectively. Workers with pre-injury opioid or benzodiazepine use were more likely to have compensable claims and be on opioids or benzodiazepines, respectively, after injury. Cases with chronic opioid use pre-injury nearly universally receive opioids post-injury.

CONCLUSIONS: Pre-injury opioid and benzodiazepine use may increase the risk of disability after work-related injury.

Language: en