Observational studyBMC public health2024
Exceeding the guideline-recommended maximum daily dose of opioids for long-term treatment of non-cancer pain in Germany - a large retrospective observational study.
Observational study in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- A Large Retrospective Observational Study of Nonpharmacologic Treatment Use Among German Patients Receiving Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Noncancer Pain.Pain research & management · 2026Observational
- Long-Acting versus Short-Acting Opioids and Opioid-Related Disorders in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Claims Data Analysis in Germany.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Prescription of Strong Opioids in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain in the Province of Valladolid (Spain).Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHigh-dose long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) has been associated with increased mortality and hospitalizations. Therefore, the evidence-based German guideline on LTOT for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) recommends to only exceed the maximum daily dose (MDD) of opioids in exceptional cases. This study aimed to determine the portion of LTOT patients who exceeded the guideline-recommended MDD and identify predictors of exceeding in administrative claims data.
methodsThe retrospective observational analysis of opioid prescriptions in patients receiving LTOT for CNCP was based on administrative claims by a large German statutory health insurance company. Patients with at least two quarters of opioid prescriptions between January 2018 and June 2019 were included and followed up for two years. Predictors were identified by logistic regression. In addition, the number of patients still in opioid therapy and the extent of exceeded MDDs were analyzed over time.
resultsThe sample consisted of 113,475 patients. Overall, 10.5% of the patients exceeded the guideline-recommended MDD averaged over the observation period. Strong predictors for exceeding the MDD were receiving opioid prescriptions from > 7 physicians (OR = 7.66, p < .001), receiving predominantly strong opioids (OR = 6.79, p < .001) and receiving opioids for at least one year prior to inclusion (OR = 5.35, p < .001). Within the non-exceeding group, 28.1% discontinued opioid therapy. In contrast, 9.9% of patients in the exceeding group discontinued opioid therapy, whereas the vast majority remained on treatment until the end of the observation period. Furthermore, a slight increase in prescribed doses was observed over time.
conclusionsThe results indicate that a moderate proportion of patients exceeded the guideline-recommended MDD. However, certain patient groups were more likely to receive high doses. This applied in particular to those who were already on treatment at the time of inclusion and continued to receive opioids until the end of the observation period. Further research should examine whether the continuous opioid therapy among the patients with exceeding the guideline-recommended MDD might be related to specific indications, a lack of therapeutic options or avoidance of withdrawal.
trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (drks.de/search/en). Identifier: DRKS00024854. Registered 28 April 2021.
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