Treatment of Postoperative Pain with Multiple Opioids is Associated with Increased Hospital Charges

SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study examined the occurrence of patients undergoing treatment with multiple opioids for postoperative pain following inpatient surgery, and calculates the associated hospital charges. The findings reveal that of 17,727 patients, 33 percent were treated with three or more different injectable opioids on the day of surgery. The average hospital charges for these patients were $2,559 higher compared to similar patients who weren't treated for pain in a similar manner. The study was conducted by CogenDx, which offers genetic testing to identify how a patients' genetic profile may impact his or her response to certain medications.

"Previous studies have shown that postoperative pain can lead to adverse events, such as hospital readmissions, and these events can have significant economic consequences," said Rami Ben-Joseph, PhD, senior vice president, health outcomes research, CogenDx. "Our study adds to the understanding of this problem by showing that cost of care may be higher following inpatient surgeries if patients experience postoperative pain requiring treatment with multiple opioids."

The study, which utilized billing data from the QuintilesIMS Hospital Charge Data Master database, identified the incidence of postoperative pain requiring treatment with multiple opioids by recording the occurrence of hospital charges for injectable opioids that were administered. Propensity score matching was used to reduce bias that may occur due to the lack of randomization.

"Several factors can impact how patients respond to medication. One factor that hasn't been fully explored is the role of genetics," explained Dr. Ben-Joseph. "For example, the OPRM1 gene codes for the μ-opioid receptor, which is a target for opioids, like morphine and fentanyl. There's clinical evidence that patients with a specific variant of OPRM1 may have higher pain sensitivity. Pharmacogenetics may be able to help identify patients who may be at risk of having unanticipated episodes of postoperative pain."

About CogenDx
CogenDx, the genetics brand of Millennium Health, LLC, helps clinicians personalize treatment decisions for patients using state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic technology. Our portfolio includes genetic testing that predicts response to commonly prescribed medications and determines genetic risks underlying potential surgical complications. For more information, visit cogendx.com.

SOURCE CogenDx

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http://www.cogendx.com