Trends in strong opioid prescribing in Ireland: A repeated cross‐sectional analysis of a national pharmacy claims database between 2010 and 2019

Norris, Brid A.; Smith, Amelia; Doran, Stephen; Barry, Michael

doi:10.1002/pds.5247

Cited by 12 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(124 reference statements)

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“…A recent Irish study of strong opioids showed increases continued from 2015 to 2019, particularly for oxycodone and tapentadol. 6 By comparison, research in England found items per 1000 population increased from 578 in 2000 to 762 in 2015 (31% increase), and a 115% increase in OMEs (199 000–428 000). 4 Other international estimates include 464 000 OMEs per 1000 population in British Columbia, Canada, 12 and 543 400 per 1000 population in the United States, 17 although with noted variation between provinces/states.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The decline in morphine concurrent with growth in newer opioids has been reported in other studies, as prescribers switch to these as the strong opioid of choice. 4,6,12 Promotion and marketing of newer opioids and opioids formulations may have contributed to uptake of these agents. for other types of neuralgia or other forms of pain) in England and Ireland has been targeted as low-value care, prompting different approaches to cost containment in both countries.…”

Section: Re Sultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study was limited to dispensing of medicines prescribed to GMS elsewhere, 6 our study provides an earlier historical benchmark to understand analgesic prescribing changes. It also characterizes opioid utilization using morphine equivalents, a robust measure to evaluate shifts in the quantity and potency of opioid prescribing.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, two recent studies have suggested Ireland has relatively high opioid overdose mortality, and that prescribing of strong opioids has increased between 2010 and 2019. 6 , 7 With changing opioids prescribing, it is important to understand if changes are driven by higher prescribing rates or doses/potencies, and also how this fits within the context of other analgesic medications. The potential for inappropriate use and misuse of analgesics is not limited to opioids, with treatments for neuropathic pain, such as pregabalin and gabapentin, also of concern.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Opioid and analgesic utilization in Ireland in 2000 and 2015: A repeated cross‐sectional study

Moriarty¹,

Bennett²,

Fahey³

2021

Pharmacology Res & Perspec

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In recent decades, opioid use has increased internationally and is a major public health concern. This study aims to characterize changes in opioid and other analgesic prescribing in Ireland over a 15‐year period (2000–2015). This is a repeated cross‐sectional study of administrative pharmacy claims data in 2000 and 2015. Individuals of all ages in Ireland's Eastern Health Board region who were eligible for the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme were included. This scheme covers 40% of the population, mostly those on lower incomes and older people. The primary outcome was dispensing of opioids, both prevalence of any use and rate per 1000 GMS eligible population (standardized to the 2015 population). Logistic regression was used to assess odds of opioid dispensing in 2015 versus 2000, controlling for demographic differences. The eligible study population was 364 436 in 2000 and 523 653 in 2015. In 2000, 19.4% of the eligible population had at least one opioid dispensing compared to 20.8% in 2015. The rate increased from 671 to 1098 dispensings per 1000 population. The increase was highest in the dispensing rates of codeine, tramadol, oxycodone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl. Compared to 2000, there was higher odds in 2015 of being dispensed a strong opioid (adjusted odds ratio 2.0, 95%CI 1.97–2.04) or long‐acting formulation (3.75, 95%CI 3.58–3.92). Increased prescribing of opioids, particularly strong opioids, between 2000 and 2015 is evident in Ireland. This is concerning due to the potential for misuse, and opioid‐related morbidity/mortality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Re Sultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Opioid and analgesic utilization in Ireland in 2000 and 2015: A repeated cross‐sectional study

Moriarty¹,

Bennett²,

Fahey³

2021

Pharmacology Res & Perspec

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Trends in opioid utilization in Hungary, 2006–2020: A nationwide retrospective study with multiple metrics

Engi

Benkő

Soós

et al. 2022

European Journal of Pain

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This study was one of the recent opioid utilisation studies using three volume-based metrics, covering a long time period. To our knowledge, this was also the first national, population level study describing opioid utilisation in Hungary. National opioid utilisation data suggested not an overuse but rather an underuse of opioid analgesics in a developed, Central European country.This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

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Opioid analgesics prescribing trends 2010–2019 in Slovenia: National database study

Cebron Lipovec

2024

Human Psychopharmacology

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ObjectiveSignificant increases in global opioid use have been reported in recent decades. This study analyzed opioid utilization in outpatient care in Slovenia between 2010 and 2019.MethodsThis retrospective cross‐sectional study performed a nationwide database analysis of all outpatient opioid analgesic prescriptions based on Slovenian health insurance claims data. Prevalence was defined as the number of recipients prescribed at least one opioid per 1000 inhabitants. Opioid consumption was presented as the total number of dispensed prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants and dispensed defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants for each year analyzed.ResultsThe age‐standardized prevalence of opioid recipients decreased by 21.5% during the study period. Total opioid consumption decreased both in the number of prescriptions (−9.2%) and DDD (−5.4%). Tramadol consumption decreased in terms of the number of prescriptions (−12.2%) and DDD (−2.7%), whereas prescriptions for strong opioids increased (10.2%) and DDDs decreased (−16.2%). The results suggest less intensive prescribing of strong opioids and more intensive prescribing for tramadol. The most frequently used strong opioids were fentanyl and oxycodone/naloxone.ConclusionsThe prevalence of opioid recipients and opioid consumption is decreasing in Slovenia. Further research is needed to understand whether this finding reflects safe use or underuse of these important analgesics.

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Trends in strong opioid prescribing in Ireland: A repeated cross‐sectional analysis of a national pharmacy claims database between 2010 and 2019

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Opioid and analgesic utilization in Ireland in 2000 and 2015: A repeated cross‐sectional study

Opioid and analgesic utilization in Ireland in 2000 and 2015: A repeated cross‐sectional study

Trends in opioid utilization in Hungary, 2006–2020: A nationwide retrospective study with multiple metrics

Opioid analgesics prescribing trends 2010–2019 in Slovenia: National database study

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