The Prevalence of Opioid Analgesic Use in People with Chronic Noncancer Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

OBJECTIVE: To review studies examining the proportion of people with chronic noncancer pain who report consuming opioids and characteristics associated with their use. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We searched databases from inception to February 8, 2020, and conducted citation tracking. We included observational studies reporting the proportion of adults with chronic noncancer pain who used opioid analgesics. Opioids were categorized as weak (e.g., codeine) or strong (e.g., oxycodone). Study risk of bias was assessed, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluations provided a summary of the overall quality. Results were pooled using a random-effects model. Meta-regression determined factors associated with opioid use. RESULTS: Sixty studies (N=3,961,739) reported data on opioid use in people with chronic noncancer pain from 1990 to 2017. Of these 46, 77% had moderate risk of bias. Opioid use was reported by 26.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.1-30.8; moderate-quality evidence) of people with chronic noncancer pain. The use of weak opioids (17.3%; 95% CI 11.9-24.4; moderate-quality evidence) was more common than the use of strong opioids (9.8%; 95% CI, 6.8-14.0; low-quality evidence). Meta-regression determined that opioid use was associated with geographic region (P=0.02; lower in Europe than North America), but not sampling year (P=0.77), setting (P=0.06), diagnosis (P=0.34), or disclosure of funding (P=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Our review summarized data from over 3.9 million people with chronic noncancer pain reporting their opioid use. Between 1990 and 2017, one-quarter of people with chronic noncancer pain reported taking opioids, and this proportion did not change over time.

Primary Open Abductor Reconstruction: A 5 to 10-Year Study.

BACKGROUND: Gluteal tears are recognized as the source of pain over the greater trochanter. We investigated the outcome of primary open abductor tendon reconstruction with a 5-10 year follow-up. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five consecutive hips underwent an open abductor tendon reconstruction, with all tears confirmed preoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging. Oxford Hip Scores (OHS) were assessed at the initial visit, and at 5-10 years. RESULTS: The average preoperative OHS was 22 (range 7-34) and average postoperative OHS was 40 a difference of 18 (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Surgical reconstruction of degenerate abductor tendons should be considered in the presence of a magnetic resonance imaging confirmed separation where clinical findings are consistent with the known tendon disruption. Open transosseous reconstruction reliably results in good pain relief at 5-10 years.

Exploring the Quality of Anticoagulant Prescribed for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation at the St John of God Hawkesbury District Health Centre, New South Wales, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the clinical management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its outcomes from an Australian perspective. OBJECTIVE: To describe the appropriateness of antithrombotic prescribing for patients who presented with a diagnosis of AF to the Hawkesbury St John of God Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. METHODS: This retrospective observational study reviewed patients admitted to St John of God Hawkesbury Hospital with AF between June 2016 and June 2017. We calculated stroke risk using the CHA2DS2-VASc score based on medical records and reviewed the appropriateness of oral anticoagulant (OAC) prescribing compared to the 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Patients were excluded if they had only 1 episode of AF that reverted either spontaneously or upon cardioversion without any documented recurrences. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients (18 years) were included, with 180 (90%) deemed eligible for anticoagulation. Of these 72.8% (n = 131) were prescribed an OAC. A total of 40.0% of patients at low risk of stroke and 68.4% at intermediate risk were prescribed an OAC, respectively. Apixaban was the direct OAC of choice with 36.6% of patients prescribed an OAC receiving apixaban. Warfarin was prescribed for 25.1% of the patients who were prescribed an OAC. CONCLUSIONS: The underutilization of anticoagulant medication in high-risk groups and over utilization in low-risk groups remains an ongoing issue in contemporary AF management, and it highlights the need to improve AF-related stroke prevention in our jurisdiction.