Population-Level Trends in Adult Pain Treatments, 2011-2019

Thursday, November 10, 2022

3:35 PM – 3:51 PM

Presenting Author(s)

Kevin T. Pritchard, MS, OTR/L

Predoctoral research fellow
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, United States

Slides

Non-presenting Author(s)

JB

Jacques Baillargeon, PhD

Professor and Chair for the Department of Epidemiology
School of Public and Population Health at University of Texas Medical Branch, United States
WL

Wei-Chen Lee, PhD

Research Fellow
Internal Med-Endocrinology at University of Texas Medical Branch, United States
MR

Mukaila Raji, M.D., M.S., FACP

Professor & Director
Internal Medicine-Geriatrics at University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, United States
YK

Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD

Professor
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, United States

We compared 2011-2019 annual trends in the use of prescription opioids, nonpharmacologic alternatives, both, or no treatment among cancer-free U.S. adults with chronic or surgical pain. Population-level estimates for the annual use of various nonpharmacologic treatment providers (acupuncturist, chiropractors, massage therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists) were also examined. Using a serial cross-sectional analysis of the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we described annual estimates for the use of outpatient pain treatments separately for persons with chronic versus surgical pain. A total of 46,420 cancer-free U.S. adults with pain were included. An unweighted 9,643 (20.4% weighted) received surgery and 40,602 (79.6% weighted) had chronic pain. We found an increasing utilization of nonpharmacologic treatments in 2019 for both cohorts (chronic pain, adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR], 2.72; [95% CI, 2.30-3.21]; surgical, aOR, 1.53; [95% CI, 1.13-2.08]) compared to 2011. Chiropractors and physical therapists were the most common nonpharmacologic providers.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the 2011-2019 annual trends in access to nonpharmacologic pain treatments versus prescription opioids.
Identify the most commonly visited nonpharmacologic outpatient providers specialized in treating pain and discuss social determinants of health that may influence access to these providers.
Understand how the use of nonpharmacologic and opioid pain treatments vary across levels of pain severity.