A Review of Opioid Prescribing Practices and Associations with Repeat Opioid Prescriptions in a Contemporary Outpatient HIV Clinic

Objectives: Among persons in current HIV outpatient care, data on opioid prescribing are lacking. This study aims to evaluate predictors of repeat opioid prescribing and to characterize outpatient opioid prescribing practices. Methods: Retrospective cross‐sectional study of persons ≥ 18 years in HIV outpatient care who completed an annual behavioral assessment between June 2008 and June 2009. Persons were grouped by ≤ 1 and ≥ 2 opioid prescriptions (no‐repeat‐opioid and repeat‐opioids, respectively). Independent predictors for repeat‐opioids were evaluated. Opioid prescribing practices were characterized in a sub‐study of persons prescribed any opioid. Results: Overall, 659 persons were included, median age 43 years, 70% men, and 68% African American. Independent predictors of repeat‐opioids (88 [13%] persons) included opportunistic illnesses (both current and previous), depression, peripheral neuropathy, and hepatitis C coinfection (P