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Comparative Study
. 2015 Jan;58(1):33-9.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22374. Epub 2014 Aug 21.

Proportion of opioid use due to compensated workers' compensation claims in Manitoba, Canada

Allen Kraut  1 , Leigh Anne Shafer, Colette B Raymond
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Comparative Study

Proportion of opioid use due to compensated workers' compensation claims in Manitoba, Canada

Allen Kraut et al. Am J Ind Med. 2015 Jan.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: This study identifies the percentage of opioids prescribed for compensated workplace conditions in Manitoba, Canada and whether Workers Compensation Board (WCB) status is associated with higher prescription opioid doses.

Methods: Opioid prescriptions for WCB recipients were linked with databases housed at the Manitoba Center for Health Policy. Duration of continuous opioid prescription and morphine equivalents (ME) per day (ME/D) were calculated for individuals age 18-65.

Results: Over the period from 1998 to 2010, 3.8% of the total opioid dosage of medication prescribed in the study population were prescribed to WCB recipients. WCB recipients accounted for 2.1% of the individuals prescribed opioids. In adjusted analyses WCB recipients were more likely to be prescribed over 120 ME/D (OR 2.06 95% CI, 1.58-2.69).

Conclusions: WCB recipients account for a small, but significant amount of the total opioid prescribed in Manitoba. Manitoba's WCB population is a group at increased risk of being prescribed over 120 ME/day.

Keywords: Canada; duration of use; epidemiology; opioids; workers compensation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average Morphine Equivalents (ME) Prescribed/Person/Year for WCB recipients and all Manitobans prescribed opioids.
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