Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33849849›Full record

ReviewBMJ open2021

Cohort profile: development and characteristics of a retrospective cohort of individuals dispensed prescription opioids for non-cancer pain in British Columbia, Canada.

James Wilton, Mei Chong, Younathan Abdia, Roy Purssell, Aaron MacInnes, Tara Gomes, Richard C Dart, Robert F Balshaw, Michael Otterstatter, Stanley Wong and 4 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
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

14 authors.

James WiltonBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada james.wilton@bccdc.ca.ORCID 0000-0002-2295-7511
Mei ChongBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Younathan AbdiaBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Roy PurssellBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Aaron MacInnesPain Management Clinic, JPOCSC, Fraser Health Authority, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Tara GomesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Richard C DartRocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Robert F BalshawGeorge and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Michael OtterstatterBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Stanley WongBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Amanda YuBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Maria AlvarezBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Naveed Zafar JanjuaBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Jane A BuxtonBC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Funding

CIHR NHC–142832CIHR PJT-156117
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePrescription opioids (POs) are widely prescribed for chronic non-cancer pain but are associated with several risks and limited long-term benefit. Large, linked data sources are needed to monitor their harmful effects. We developed and characterised a retrospective cohort of people dispensed POs.

participantsWe used a large linked administrative database to create the Opioid Prescribing Evaluation and Research Activities cohort of individuals dispensed POs for non-cancer pain in British Columbia (BC), Canada (1996-2015). We created definitions to categorise episodes of PO use based on a review of the literature (acute, episodic, chronic), developed an algorithm for inferring clinical indication and assessed patterns of PO use across a range of characteristics. FINDINGS TO DATE: The current cohort includes 1.1 million individuals and 3.4 million PO episodes (estimated to capture 40%-50% of PO use in BC). The majority of episodes were acute (81%), with most prescribed for dental or surgical pain. Chronic use made up 3% of episodes but 88% of morphine equivalents (MEQ). Across the acute to episodic to chronic episode gradient, there was an increasing prevalence of higher potency POs (hydromorphone, oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine), long-acting formulations and chronic pain related indications (eg, back, neck, joint pain). Average daily dose (MEQ) was similar for acute/episodic but higher for chronic episodes. Approximately 7% of the cohort had a chronic episode and chronic pain was the characteristic most strongly associated with chronic PO use. Individuals initiating a chronic episode were also more likely to have higher social/material deprivation and previous experience with a mental health condition or a problem related to alcohol or opioid use. Overall, these findings suggest our episode definitions have face validity and also provide insight into characteristics of people initiating chronic PO therapy. FUTURE PLANS: The cohort will be refreshed every 2 years. Future analyses will explore the association between POs and adverse outcomes.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidChronic PainBritish ColumbiaHumansPractice Patterns, Physicians'PrescriptionsRetrospective StudiesAnalgesics, Opioidepidemiologymental healthpain managementpublic health

Identifiers

PMID33849849
PMCPMC8051385

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.