OPIOID USE IS COMMON AMONG PATIENTS WITH OA AND RA
In two studies that each compared >240,000 U.S. patients:
40%
of RA patients used opioids regularly5‡
17%
of any joint OA patients were prescribed opioids for their condition6§¶
‡Based on a study of 2014 Medicare data in the average rheumatologist’s practice.
§According to data from the Humana, Inc. administrative claims database from 2007 to 2014.
¶13% of patients with hip OA and 16% of patients with knee OA were prescribed an opioid.
CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; DMARD=disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OA=osteoarthritis; RA=rheumatoid arthritis.