ACR Journals On Air Opioids and SARDs
Nov 26, 2024
Inan Huang, an assistant professor of pharmacy administration and a research expert in rheumatology, discusses a pivotal study on opioid treatment trends for adults with systemic autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The conversation reveals how patients with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis face different challenges compared to the general population regarding opioid effectiveness and safety. Huang also addresses critical insights from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, shedding light on disparities in prescribing practices and the urgent need for more research on long-term opioid use in these patients.
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Prescription Data in NAMCS
- The NAMCS dataset records up to 30 medications per visit, including new prescriptions and continued use.
- It doesn't verify actual prescription filling, relying on recorded medication names without dosage details.
Included Opioid Prescriptions
- The study analyzed various opioid prescriptions, including buprenorphine, fentanyl, and common opioid combinations.
- They used the Melting Drug Categories coding system, unlike the NDC or HCPCS codes used in other healthcare data.
Missing 2017 Data
- The study analyzed data from 2006-2016 and 2018-2019, excluding 2017 due to data availability issues.
- The 2017 NAMCS data was not released when the study was conducted.