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. 2024 Mar 6;24(1).
doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2023-0076. eCollection 2024 Jan 1.

Association between self-reported pain severity and characteristics of United States adults (age ≥50 years) who used opioids

David R Axon  1   2 , Oiza Aliu  1   2
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Free article

Association between self-reported pain severity and characteristics of United States adults (age ≥50 years) who used opioids

David R Axon et al. Scand J Pain. .
Free article

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the associations between the characteristics of United States (US) adults (≥50 years) who used opioids and self-reported pain severity using a nationally representative dataset.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional database study used 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to identify US adults aged ≥50 years with self-reported pain within the past 4 weeks and ≥1 opioid prescription within the calendar year (n = 1,077). Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis modeled associations between various characteristics and self-reported pain severity (quite a bit/extreme vs less/moderate pain).

Results: The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that greater odds of reporting quite a bit/extreme pain was associated with the following: age 50-64 vs ≥65 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-2.54), non-Hispanic vs Hispanic (AOR = 2.0; CI = 1.18-3.39), unemployed vs employed (AOR = 2.01; CI = 1.33-3.05), no health insurance vs private insurance (AOR = 6.80; CI = 1.43-32.26), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good health (AOR = 3.10; CI = 2.19-4.39), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good mental health (AOR = 2.16; CI = 1.39-3.38), non-smoker vs smoker (AOR = 1.80; CI = 1.19-2.71), and instrumental activity of daily living, yes vs no (AOR = 2.27; CI = 1.30-3.96).

Conclusion: Understanding the several characteristics associated with pain severity in US adults ≥50 years who used an opioid may help transform healthcare approaches to prevention, education, and management of pain severity in later life.

Keywords: opioid; pain; pain management; pain severity.

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