After surgery, 1.7% of patients in Austria continue to take prescription opioids even three to six months later, beyond the typical recovery period for acute postoperative pain, according to MedUni Vienna. Researchers, in light of the opioid crisis in the U.S. and rising addiction rates, have examined the situation post-surgery in Austria and are now issuing a warning.
Opioids are potent pain medications, but prolonged use carries a high risk of dependence. In the U.S., the phenomenon of “New Persistent Opioid Use” (NPOU) has emerged as a significant issue, with up to 7% of patients developing continued opioid use at least three to six months after surgery.
Half a Million Patient Data Analyzed
“For Austria and Europe as a whole, such data has been lacking,” reported study lead Razvan Bologheanu (University Clinic for Anesthesia, General Intensive Care Medicine, and Pain Therapy at MedUni Vienna). The study analyzed data from 559,096 Austrian patients who underwent a total of 642,857 surgeries between 2016 and 2021.
The results revealed that 1.7% of patients in Austria, who had not used opioids prior to surgery, continued using them afterward. “After spinal surgeries, our study showed that 6.8% developed NPOU,” explained study director Oliver Kimberger. An increased risk for continued opioid use was also noted after joint replacement and hernia surgeries. In contrast, the rate was just 0.3% after appendectomy.
Risk Groups Identified in Study
The type of surgery is not the only factor; age and comorbidities also play a significant role. Older age, chronic pain, and psychiatric conditions, particularly mood and substance use disorders, were significantly associated with postoperative opioid use. Patients who had used opioids before surgery and stopped prior to the procedure were also more likely to fall into the NPOU group.
“Our study shows that continued opioid use after surgery is an important issue in Austria, despite a more restrictive prescribing practice compared to the U.S.,” said the researchers. The results, published in the journal “JAMA Network Open,” highlight the need for preventive measures, particularly for high-risk groups.
