Multimorbidity and Opioid Prescribing in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Background: Multimorbidity and pain are both common among older adults, yet pain treatment strategies for older patients with multimorbidity have not been well characterized. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and relationship between multimorbidity and opioid prescribing in hospitalized older medical patients with pain. Methods: We collected demographic, morbidity, pain, and analgesic treatment data through structured review of the electronic medical records of a consecutive sample of 238 medical patients, aged ≥65 years admitted between November 2014 and May 2015 with moderate-to-severe pain by numerical pain rating scale (range 4-10). We used the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) to assess multimorbidity and cumulative illness burden. We examined the relationship between morbidity measures and opioid prescribing at hospital discharge using multivariate regression analysis. Results: The mean age was 75 ± 8 years, 57% were female and 50% were non-White. Mean CIRS-G total score was 17 ± 6, indicating high cumulative illness burden. Ninety-nine percent of patients had multimorbidity, defined as moderate-to-extremely severe morbidity in ≥2 organ systems. Sixty percent of patients received an opioid prescription at discharge. In multivariate analyses adjusted for age, race, and gender, patients with a discharge opioid prescription were significantly more likely to have higher cumulative illness burden and chronic pain. Conclusion: Among older medical inpatients, multimorbidity was nearly universal, and patients with higher cumulative illness burden were more likely to receive a discharge opioid prescription. More studies of benefits and harms of analgesic treatments in older adults with multimorbidity are needed to guide clinical practice.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Moderate to Severe Pain among Hospitalized Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and management of pain in older hospitalized medical patients. DESIGN: Medical record aggregate review. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older admitted to the medicine service between November 28, 2014, and May 28, 2015. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics, comorbidity burden, pain characteristics, and analgesics during index hospitalization were assessed in individuals with moderate to severe pain (≥4 on 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale). RESULTS: Of 1,267 patients admitted to the medicine service, 248 (20%) had moderate to severe pain on admission (mean age 75 ± 8, 57% female, 50% white). During hospitalization, most participants received opioids (80%) and acetaminophen (74%), and few received nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (9%). Participants with chronic pain had less reduction in pain intensity score from admission to discharge than those without a history of chronic pain (mean change score 3.7 vs 4.9, p=.002) and were more likely to receive opioids, adjuvant analgesics, and other analgesics (all p<.05). CONCLUSION: Twenty percent of older adults admitted to a general medicine service had moderate to severe pain. Further research about optimal pain management in hospitalized older adults, particularly those with chronic pain, is necessary to improve care in this population.

Evidence-based recommendations to improve reproductive healthcare for incarcerated women.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe standards for evidence-based reproductive healthcare for incarcerated women. Design/methodology/approach The literature on reproductive healthcare in the US criminal justice system and recommendations from professional organizations were reviewed and critical areas of concern were identified. Within these areas, studies and expert opinion were synthesized and policy recommendations were formulated through an iterative process of group discussion and document revision. This brief specifically addresses women's incarceration in the USA, but the recommendations are grounded in a human rights framework with global relevance. Findings Women who are incarcerated have health needs that are distinct from those of men, and there is a clear need for gender-responsive reproductive healthcare within the criminal justice system. This brief identifies five core domains of reproductive healthcare: routine screening, menstruation-related concerns, prenatal and postpartum care, contraception and abortion, and sexually transmitted infections. The recommendations emphasize the continuity between the criminal justice system and the community, as well as the dignity and self-determination of incarcerated women. Originality/value This brief provides a unique synthesis of the available evidence with concrete recommendations for improving the reproductive healthcare for incarcerated women.