Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41241697›Full record

ArticleSpinal cord2026

Prevalence of prescribed opioid claims among persons with non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Qi Guan, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Andrew Calzavara, Daniel McCormack, Aisha K Lofters, Tejal Patel, Sander L Hitzig, Tanya Packer, Sara J T Guilcher

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Spinal cord, 2026. 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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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Qi GuanInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Mary-Ellen HoganLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Andrew CalzavaraICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Daniel McCormackICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Aisha K LoftersICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7322-0894
Tejal PatelSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-3002-8306
Sander L HitzigRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9139-9250
Tanya PackerSchools of Occupational Therapy and Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4831-7691
Sara J T GuilcherInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. sara.guilcher@utoronto.ca.ORCID 0000-0002-9552-9139

Funding

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation PSR2-17, grant #441259
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designCohort study.

objectivesTo determine the prevalence and to identify predictors of prescription opioid use among persons with non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction within one year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

settingOntario, Canada.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data to determine predictors of receiving prescription opioids during the one year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation among persons with non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2015. We modelled the outcome using a Poisson multivariable regression and reported relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.

resultsWe identified 3468 individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction (50.35% male) with 66.58% who were aged ≥66. Over half of the cohort (59.46%) received opioids during the observation period. Being female, previous opioid use before rehabilitation, increasing comorbidity level, low functional status, and having a previous diagnosis of osteoarthritis were significant risk factors for receiving opioids after discharge, as shown in an adjusted multivariable analysis. Increasing length of rehabilitation stay was protective against opioid receipt after discharge. Risk of receiving opioids varied with age. Younger individuals had a significantly higher risk of future opioid use, a risk that peaked around 30-40 years of age (aRR 1.54, 95% CI 1.42-1.67 for age 40, as compared to age 80). Risk of opioid use following discharge decreased as age increased beyond 40 years, as compared to age 80.

conclusionsMany individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction in Ontario are prescribed opioids after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. This may be problematic due to the number of severe complications that may arise from opioid use and their use in this population warrants future research.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidDrug PrescriptionsSpinal Cord DiseasesUniversal Health InsuranceAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOntarioPoisson DistributionPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesAnalgesics, Opioid

Identifiers

PMID41241697

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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.