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. 2022 Apr;7(4):e335-e346.
doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00013-5.

Global, regional, and national trends in opioid analgesic consumption from 2015 to 2019: a longitudinal study

Chengsheng Ju  1 , Li Wei  2 , Kenneth K C Man  3 , Zixuan Wang  1 , Tian-Tian Ma  4 , Adrienne Y L Chan  4 , Ruth Brauer  5 , Celine S L Chui  6 , Esther W Chan  7 , Yogini H Jani  5 , Yingfen Hsia  8 , Ian C K Wong  3 , Wallis C Y Lau  9
Affiliations
Free article

Global, regional, and national trends in opioid analgesic consumption from 2015 to 2019: a longitudinal study

Chengsheng Ju et al. Lancet Public Health. 2022 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported an extremely unbalanced global access to opioid analgesics. We aimed to determine contemporary trends and patterns of opioid analgesic consumption at the global, regional, and national levels.

Methods: We analysed the global pharmaceutical sales data of 66 countries or regions from the IQVIA-Multinational Integrated Data Analysis System database on opioid analgesics between 2015 and 2019. Opioid analgesic consumption was measured in milligram morphine equivalent per 1000 inhabitants per day (MME per 1000/day). The global, regional, and national trend changes were estimated using linear regressions. Factors associated with consumption patterns and trend changes were explored in multivariable linear regression analyses.

Findings: Overall opioid analgesic sales in the 66 countries or regions increased from 27·52 MME per 1000/day (16·63-45·54) in 2015 to 29·51 MME per 1000/day (17·85-48·79) in 2019 (difference per year 3·96%, 95% CI 0·26 to 7·80). Sales reduced yearly in North America (-12·84%; 95% CI -15·34 to -10·27) and Oceania (-2·96%; -4·20 to -1·70); increased in South America (28·69%; 7·18 to 54·53), eastern Europe (7·68%; 3·99 to 11·49), Asia (5·74%; 0·61 to 11·14), and western and central Europe (1·64%; 0·52 to 2·78); and did not differ in Africa or central America and the Caribbean. The global opioid consumption patterns were associated with country-level Human Development Index (p=0·040), cancer death rate excluding leukaemia (p=0·0072), and geographical location (p<0·0001). In 2019, opioid analgesic consumption ranged from 0·01 MME per 1000/day to 5·40 MME per 1000/day in the 17 countries and regions in the lowest consumption quartile, despite high income levels and cancer death rates in some of them.

Interpretation: Global opioid analgesic consumption increased from 2015 to 2019. The trend changes were distinctive across regions, which could reflect the different actions in response to known issues of opioid use and misuse. Disparities in opioid analgesic consumption remained, indicating potential inadequate access to essential pain relief in countries with low consumption.

Funding: None.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests KKCM is the recipient of the CW Maplethorpe Fellowship and report grants from the UK National Institute for Health Research, and the Research Grant Council, Hong Kong. KKCM receives personal fees from IQVIA, unrelated to the submitted work; and post was funded by D(2)4H which was supported by AIR@InnoHK administered by Innovation and Technology Commission. CSLC has received grants from the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong Research Grant Council, Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission, Pfizer, IQVIA, and Amgen; and receives a personal fee from Primevigilance outside the submitted work. EWC has received honorarium from the Hospital Authority, research grants from Research Grants Council (Research Grants Council, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), Research Fund Secretariat of the Food and Health Bureau (Health and Medical Research Fund, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), National Natural Science Fund of China, the Australian National Health and Medical research Council NHMRC, Wellcome Trust, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Janssen, Amgen, Takeda, and Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, outside the submitted work. ICKW reports research funding outside the submitted work from Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Janssen, Bayer, GSK, Novartis, the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, and the Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund, the National Institute for Health Research in England, European Commission, National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia, and also received speaker fees from Janssen and Medice in the previous 3 years. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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