Poorer Physical and Mental Health Status Are Associated with Subsequent Opioid Prescriptions: a U.S. National Study

Background How physical and mental health status relate to receipt of opioid prescription remains unclear, creating uncertainty in minimizing opioid harms while avoiding pain under-treatment. Objective To examine the associations of physical and mental health status with subsequent opioid prescriptions. Design Observational study of 2005–2015 United States (U.S.) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Participants Adult respondents ( N = 78,563) participating for 2 years. The analyses focused on respondents reporting no opioid prescriptions in year 1 ( N = 65,249). Main Measures In the primary analysis, a negative binomial regression yielding adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs), the dependent variable was the number of opioid prescriptions in year 2. In two secondary analyses, both logistic regressions yielding adjusted odds ratios (ORs), the dependent variables were receipt of any opioid prescription (versus none) and receipt of ≥ 6 opioid prescriptions (versus 0–5) in year 2. The key independent variables in all analyses were the SF-12 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores (PCS-12 and MCS-12, respectively; higher scores = better health status). All models adjusted for socio-demographics, health-related variables, and year. Key Results Primary analysis. With each 10-point decrement in year 1 PCS-12 or MCS-12 score, there were more opioid prescriptions received in year 2 (adjusted IRRs [95% CIs] 1.45 [1.39–1.52] and 1.22 [1.16–1.27], respectively). Secondary analyses. With each 10-point decrement in year 1 PCS-12 or MCS-12 score, there were higher odds in year 2 both of receiving any opioid prescription (adjusted ORs 1.23 [1.19–1.28] and 1.11 [1.08–1.15], respectively) and of receiving ≥ 6 opioid prescriptions (adjusted ORs 1.96 [1.75–2.17] and 1.37 [1.23–1.54], respectively). Conclusions In a nationally representative U.S. sample, both poorer physical and mental health status independently predicted receiving more opioid prescriptions received in a subsequent year, as well as receiving ≥ 6 prescriptions during the year. Our findings may contribute to a more nuanced picture of the drivers of opioid prescription.