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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 3/2016

01-03-2016 | Original Paper

Factors Associated with Prescription of Opioids and Co-prescription of Sedating Medications in Individuals with HIV

Authors: Jessica S. Merlin, Ashutosh Tamhane, Joanna L. Starrels, Stefan Kertesz, Michael Saag, Karen Cropsey

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 3/2016

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Abstract

Opioids are often prescribed for chronic pain, and opioid risks such as overdose and death are heightened when opioids are co-prescribed with other sedating medications. We investigated factors associated with chronic opioid prescription, alone and in combination with benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants, in a clinical cohort of individuals with HIV. We used multivariable logistic regression models to determine participant clinical and demographic characteristics that are associated with chronic prescription of opioids or chronic co-prescription of opioids with sedating medications. Among 1474 participants, chronic prescription of opioids occurred in 253 individuals (17.2 %), and chronic co-prescription occurred in 90 individuals (6.1 %). Age >50, public insurance as compared to private insurance, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly associated with chronic opioid prescription and chronic co-prescription. Our findings raise concern that opioid prescription and co-prescription of sedating medications occurs disproportionately in patients for whom use is riskier.
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Metadata
Title
Factors Associated with Prescription of Opioids and Co-prescription of Sedating Medications in Individuals with HIV
Authors
Jessica S. Merlin
Ashutosh Tamhane
Joanna L. Starrels
Stefan Kertesz
Michael Saag
Karen Cropsey
Publication date
01-03-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1178-8

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