TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Effects of Ohio's opioid prescribing limit for the geriatric minimally injured trauma patient
JO  - American journal of surgery
A1  - Young, Brian T.
A1  - Zolin, Samuel J.
A1  - Ferre, Alexandra
A1  - Ho, Vanessa P.
A1  - Harvey, Alexis R.
A1  - Beel, Kevin T.
A1  - Tseng, Esther S.
A1  - Conrad-Schnetz, Kristen
A1  - Claridge, Jeffrey A.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - 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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Opioid prescribing has decreased for geriatric patients with minor injuries. However, surgeons have not reduced dosage based on age or fall risk.<br><br>Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0002-9610
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.10.041
ID  - ref1
ER  -