Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39051861›Full record

ArticleThe journal of spinal cord medicine2025

Chronic opioid prescription in veterans with spinal cord injury: Prevalence and associated factors.

Cameron Strong, Stephen P Burns, Anne Arewasikporn, Pradeep Suri, Eric J Hawkins, Steve Leipertz, Jodie Haselkorn, Aaron P Turner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of spinal cord medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Cameron StrongVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Stephen P BurnsVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Anne ArewasikpornChronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Pradeep SuriVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Eric J HawkinsVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Steve LeipertzVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Jodie HaselkornVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Aaron P TurnerVA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveChronic opioid use presents long-term health risks for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of the study was to characterize patterns and correlates of the chronic prescription of opioids among individuals with SCI in a population of Veterans receiving care though the Veteran's Health Administration.

designA retrospective, longitudinal cohort study examined the US Department of Veterans Affairs electronic medical record data of veterans with SCI. The annual prevalence of prescription opioid use by type (any, acute, chronic, incident chronic) was calculated for each study year (2015-2017). Multivariable models examined associations with demographics and pre-existing medical comorbidities.

settingUS Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran's Health Administration.

participantsNational sample of Veterans with SCI (

main outcome measureChronic prescription opioid use (≥90 days).

resultsAll types of prescription opioid use declined across the three study years (chronic opioid use prevalence = 33.2%, 31.7%, and 29.7%, respectively). Past history of depression, COPD, diabetes, pain condition, opioid use and tobacco use disorders were associated with a greater likelihood of current chronic prescription opioid use. Non-white race, hyperlipidemia, dementia, and tetraplegia were associated with a lower likelihood of current chronic prescription opioid use. When added to the multivariable model, prior chronic opioid prescription use was robustly associated with current chronic prescription opioid use, but most other factors were no longer significantly associated with current opioid use.

conclusionsThis study demonstrates opioid reduction over time from 2015 to 2017, however, chronic prescription opioid use remains common among a substantial minority of Veterans with SCI. Several demographics and comorbidities may provide clinicians with important insights into factors associated with chronic prescription opioid use, with past chronic prescription opioid use being the most important.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidChronic PainDrug PrescriptionsOpioid-Related DisordersSpinal Cord InjuriesVeteransAdultAgedComorbidityFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesAnalgesics, OpioidOpioidPainSpinal cord injury

Identifiers

PMID39051861
PMCPMC12329830

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.