Citation

Young BT, Zolin SJ, Ferre A, Ho VP, Harvey AR, Beel KT, Tseng ES, Conrad-Schnetz K, Claridge JA. Am. J. Surg. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

MetroHealth Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns, & Acute Care Surgery, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: jclaridge@metrohealth.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.10.041

PMID

31910990

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Geriatric patients, age ≥65, frequently require no operation and only short observation after injury; yet many are prescribed opioids. We reviewed geriatric opioid prescriptions following a statewide outpatient prescribing limit.

METHODS: Discharge and 30-day pain prescriptions were collected for geriatric patients managed without operation and with stays less than two midnights from May and June of 2015 through 2018. Patients were compared pre- and post-limit and with a non-geriatric cohort aged 18-64. Fall risk was also assessed.

RESULTS: We included 218 geriatric patients, 57 post-limit. Patients received fewer discharge prescriptions and lower doses following the limit. However, this trend preceded the limit. Geriatric patients received fewer opioid prescriptions but higher doses than non-geriatric patients. Fall risk was not associated with reduced prescription frequency or doses.

CONCLUSIONS: Opioid prescribing has decreased for geriatric patients with minor injuries. However, surgeons have not reduced dosage based on age or fall risk.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en