The study analyzed managed care claims of more than 18 million pain patients undergoing chronic opioid therapy. Likely non-adherence to prescribed opioid therapy was identified through urine drug monitoring results and included patients with results of a prescribed medication not found; the presence of a non-prescribed drug; the presence of an illicit drug found in the urine; or based on the expected amount of a prescribed drug found.
The study determined that patients on chronic opioid therapy who were likely non-adherent, as determined by urine drug testing results, had 14 percent higher healthcare costs and 35 percent more hospital days.
Read the press release about the study on chronic opioid therapy.
Read other coverage about pain management:
– Study: Physicians Fall Short on Providing Guidance for Arthritis Patients
– Florida’s ‘Pill Mill’ Regulations Get More Complicated
– Drug Response Profile Dependent on Pain Mechanism and Opioid Type