Long-termopioidtherapyandmortality

Increased mortality risk under opioid therapy

Long-term opioid therapy is associated with significantly increased all-cause mortality.

Publication data

Journal: BMC Medicine
Publication: July 2020
Authors: Häuser, Schubert, Vogelmann et al.
Type of study: Retrospective database study
Data base: 4.7 million insured persons
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01644-4

Authors and affiliations

Internal Medicine I, Klinikum Saarbruecken GmbH / Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich
Winfried Haeuser

LinkCare GmbH, Ludwigsburg
Tino Schubert & Tobias Vogelmann

University Children's Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum
Christoph Maier

Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, Department of Rheumatology, McGill University Health Centre
Mary-Ann Fitzcharles

Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich
Thomas Toelle

This study examines all-cause mortality in patients with chronic non-cancer pain receiving long-term opioid therapy compared with non-opioid analgesics. It is based on a large representative German claims database with more than 4.7 million insured persons.

Key results

+59% higher all-cause mortality under opioid therapy (HR 1.59)
148 additional deaths per 10,000 person-years
Out-of-hospital mortality more than doubled (HR 2.29)

Conclusion

The study underlines the need for careful benefit-risk assessment when treating chronic pain.