Early Opioid Prescription and Subsequent Disability Among Workers With Back Injuries: The Disability Risk Identification Study Cohort : Spine

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Occupational Health/Ergonomics

Early Opioid Prescription and Subsequent Disability Among Workers With Back Injuries

The Disability Risk Identification Study Cohort

Franklin, Gary M. MD, MPH*†; Stover, Bert D. PhD*; Turner, Judith A. PhD‡§; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah MPH, PhD*; Wickizer, Thomas M. PhD

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Spine 33(2):p 199-204, January 15, 2008. | DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318160455c

Study Design. 

Prospective, population-based cohort study.

Objective. 

To examine whether prescription of opioids within 6 weeks of low back injury is associated with work disability at 1 year.

Summary of Background Data. 

Factors related to early medical treatment have been little investigated as possible risk factors for development of long-term work disability among workers with back injuries. We have previously shown that about 1 of 3 of workers receive an opioid prescription early after a low back injury, and a recent study suggested that such prescriptions may increase risk for subsequent disability.

Methods. 

We analyzed detailed data reflecting paid bills for opioids prescribed within 6 weeks of the first medical visit for a back injury among 1843 workers with lost work-time claims. Additional baseline measures included an injury severity rating from medical records, and demographic, psychosocial, pain, function, smoking, and alcohol measures from a worker survey conducted 18 days (median) after receipt of the back injury claim. Computerized database records of work disability 1 year after claim submission were obtained for the primary outcome measure.

Results. 

Nearly 14% (254 of 1843) of the sample were receiving work disability compensation at 1 year. More than one-third of the workers (630 of 1843) received an opioid prescription within 6 weeks, and 50.7% of these (319 of 630) were received at the first medical visit. After adjustment for pain, function, injury severity, and other baseline covariates, receipt of opioids for more than 7 days (odds ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–3.1) and receipt of more than 1 opioid prescription were associated significantly with work disability at 1 year.

Conclusion. 

Prescription of opioids for more than 7 days for workers with acute back injuries is a risk factor for long-term disability. Further research is needed to elucidate this association.

© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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