Observational studies exploring the association between early opioid use and workers’ compensation claim duration
| Study | Population | Opioid variable tested | Adjustments | Dependent variable | Results for early opioid use* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster et al13 | 8443 American workers’ compensation claimants with new-onset, disabling LBP | Receipt of opioids within the first 15 days of claim | Injury severity, age, gender, length of job tenure | Change in mean disability duration | 1–140 mg MEA 5.4 days, 95% CI −14.6 to 25.0 141–225 mg MEA 21.9 days, 95% CI 3.2 to 40.6 226–450 mg MEA 43.8 days, 95% CI 23.7 to 63.9 >450 mg MEA 69.1 days, 95% CI 49.3 to 89.0 |
| Franklin et al14 | 1843 Washington, USA, workers’ compensation claimants with new-onset, disabling LBP | Reimbursement for opioids within 6 weeks of 1st medical visit for LBP | Age, gender, race, education, injury severity, pain intensity, Roland disability questionnaire | Receipt of wage replacement benefits at 1 year | 1–150 mg MED OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.1 151–300 mg MED OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.2 to 3.3 301–650 mg MED OR=1.6, 95% CI=0.9 to 2.6 >650 mg MED OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.9 |
| Gross et al15 | 47 784 Alberta, Canada, workers’ compensation claimants with new-onset, disabling LBP | Reimbursement for opioids within the first 2 weeks of claim | Age, gender, annual salary, year of claim, number of previous claims | Receipt of wage replacement benefits at 1 year | HR=1.94, 95% CI 1.86 to 2.02 |
*The reference group for each comparison was no early opioids.
LBP, low back pain; MEA, morphine equivalent amount; MED, morphine equivalent dose.