Health Services Research

Prescription Opioids for Back Pain and Use of Medications for Erectile Dysfunction

Deyo, Richard A. MD, MPH^*; Smith, David H. M. PhD, RPh^†; Johnson, Eric S. PhD^†; Tillotson, Carrie J. MPH^‡; Donovan, Marilee PhD, RN^†; Yang, Xiuhai MS^†; Petrik, Amanda MS^†; Morasco, Benjamin J. PhD^§; Dobscha, Steven K. MD^§

Author Information

^*Departments of Family Medicine, Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, and Kaiser Center for Health Research, Portland, OR

^†Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR

^‡Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Portland, OR; and

^§Department of Psychiatry and Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Richard A. Deyo, MD, MPH, Department of Family Medicine, Mail Code FM, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 972329; E-mail: [email protected]

Acknowledgment date: July 11, 2012. Acceptance date: December 6, 2012.

The device(s)/drug(s) is/are FDA-approved or approved by corresponding national agency for this indication.

NIH/NCRR grant funds were received to support this work.

Relevant financial activities outside the submitted work: support for travel, board membership, and payment for manuscript preparation.

Spine 38(11):p 909-915, May 15, 2013. | DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182830482

Study Design.

Cross-sectional analysis of electronic medical and pharmacy records.

Objective.

To examine associations between use of medication for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement and use of opioid therapy, patient age, depression, and smoking status.

Summary of Background Data.

Males with chronic pain may experience erectile dysfunction related to depression, smoking, age, or opioid-related hypogonadism. The prevalence of this problem in back pain populations and the relative importance of several risk factors are unknown.

Methods.

We examined electronic pharmacy and medical records for males with back pain in a large group model health maintenance organization during 2004. Relevant prescriptions were considered for 6 months before and after the index visit.

Results.

There were 11,327 males with a diagnosis of back pain. Males who received medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement (n = 909) were significantly older than those who did not and had greater comorbidity, depression, smoking, and use of sedative-hypnotics. In logistic regressions, the long-term use of opioids was associated with greater use of medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement compared with no opioid use (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–1.87, P < 0.01). Age, comorbidity, depression, and use of sedative-hypnotics were also independently associated with the use of medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement. Patients prescribed daily opioid doses of 120 mg of morphine-equivalents or more had greater use of medication for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement than patients without opioid use (odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.43), even with adjustment for the duration of opioid therapy.

Conclusion.

Dose and duration of opioid use, as well as age, comorbidity, depression, and use of sedative-hypnotics, were associated with evidence of erectile dysfunction. These findings may be important in the process of decision making for the long-term use of opioids.

Level of Evidence: 4

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