Observational study of impact of opioid use associated with curative-intent cancer surgery on long-term opioid use among veterans

A retrospective cohort study among a US veteran population investigated the impact of opioid use from 30 days before to 14 after curative-intent cancer surgery on copresciption of benzodiazepines and opioids in the 13 months posttreatment and new persistent opioid use. Coprescription of benzodiazepines and opioids occurred in 4.0% of patients and new persistent opioid use in 10.6%. Patients in the highest quartile of morphine milligram equivalents exposure compared to no opioid exposure had a greater risk of new persistent opioid use (HR 1.6; 95% CI 1.3-1.9). The authors conclude that optimizing cancer surgery pain management strategies to mitigate long-term opioid-related health risks is crucial.