Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29394401›Full record

ArticlePain medicine (Malden, Mass.)2019

Using Pain Medication Intensity to Stratify Back Pain Among Older Adults.

Shirley Musich, Shaohung S Wang, Luke B Slindee, Karen Keown, Kevin Hawkins, Charlotte S Yeh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Shirley MusichAdvanced Analytics, Optum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Shaohung S WangAdvanced Analytics, Optum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Luke B SlindeeInformatics and Data Science, Optum, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Karen KeownUnitedHealthcare Alliances, Optum, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kevin HawkinsAdvanced Analytics, Optum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Charlotte S YehAARP Services, Inc., Washington, D. C., USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal back pain among older adults stratified by pain medication intensity to 1) review treatment patterns and 2) consider targeted back pain prevention interventions.

methodsA random sample of older adults age 64 years and older was utilized to identify new and recurring back pain. Prescription pain medications from drug claims were used to stratify to five unique intensity levels. The characteristics of each level were determined using regression models.

resultsAbout 10% had musculoskeletal back pain. Of these, 54% (N = 20,645) had new back pain and 46% (N = 17,252) had recurring back pain. Overall, about 35% received physical therapy. Pain medication intensity levels included no prescription pain medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, low-dose opioids, and high-dose opioids (new back pain: 39%, 10%, 6%, 23%, and 23%, respectively; recurring back pain 32%, 9%, 4%, 17%, and 38%, respectively). NSAID and muscle relaxant users were younger, healthier, and received physical therapy. Opioid users were younger, in poorer health, used sleep medications, received physical therapy, and had more falls and higher health care utilization and expenditures.

conclusionsNew and recurring back pain patients can be stratified by pain medication intensity to review treatment patterns and target back pain prevention programs. Those with back pain but taking no prescription pain medications may benefit from back pain prevention programs. More research on guidelines for treatment options for those on high levels of pain medications is warranted.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overAnalgesicsBack PainFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain ManagementPrevalenceAnalgesicsBack PainMorphine Milligram EquivalentsOlder AdultsOpioidsPain Medication

Identifiers

PMID29394401
PMCPMC6374135

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.