Evaluate the association between opioid therapy and health‐related quality of life (oL) in participants with chronic, noncancer pain ().
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Longitudinal, Medical Conditions, and Prescription Files.
Using a retrospective cohort study design, the Mental Health Component (12) and Physical Health Component (12) scores of the Short Form‐12 Version 2 were assessed to measure mental and physical oL.
Chronic, noncancer pain participants were classified as chronic, nonchronic, and nonopioid users. One‐to‐one propensity score matching was employed to match chronic opioid users to nonchronic opioid users plus nonchronic opioid users and chronic opioid users to nonopioid users.
A total of 5,876 participants were identified. After matching, 12 was not significantly different between nonchronic versus nonopioid users ( Diff = −0.98, 95% : −2.07, 0.10), chronic versus nonopioid users ( Diff = −2.24, 95% : −4.58, 0.10), or chronic versus nonchronic opioid users ( Diff = −2.23, 95% : −4.53, 0.05). Similarly, 12 was not significantly different between nonchronic versus nonopioid users ( Diff = 0.76, 95% : −0.46, 1.98), chronic versus nonopioid users ( Diff = 1.08, 95% : −1.26, 3.42), or chronic versus nonchronic opioid users ( Diff = −0.57, 95% : −2.90, 1.77).
Clinicians should evaluate opioid use in participants with as opioid use is not correlated with better oL.
