For the study, researchers conducted an analysis of Medicare data on 70,929 rheumatoid arthritis patients compiled from 2006 through 2014. The analysis revealed opioid use steadily increased since 2006 and peaked in 2010. Opioid use among this patient population has been declining slightly since.
“[Forty percent] of RA used prescribed opioids regularly. Almost half had at least some opioid prescriptions written by a rheumatologist, and 14 percent were coprescribed opioids concurrently by [more than one] physician,” wrote the study’s authors.
To read the whole study, click here.
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