Association between self-reported pain severity and characteristics of United States adults (age ≥50 years) who used opioids

Objective: ‒ The aim of this study was to assess the associations between the characteristics of United States (US) adults (≥50 years) who used opioids and self-reported pain severity using a nationally representative dataset. Methods: ‒ This retrospective cross-sectional database study used 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to identify US adults aged ≥50 years with self-reported pain within the past 4 weeks and ≥1 opioid prescription within the calendar year (n = 1,077). Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis modeled associations between various characteristics and self-reported pain severity (quite a bit/extreme vs less/moderate pain). Results: ‒ The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that greater odds of reporting quite a bit/extreme pain was associated with the following: age 50–64 vs ≥65 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22–2.54), non-Hispanic vs Hispanic (AOR = 2.0; CI = 1.18–3.39), unemployed vs employed (AOR = 2.01; CI = 1.33–3.05), no health insurance vs private insurance (AOR = 6.80; CI = 1.43–32.26), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good health (AOR = 3.10; CI = 2.19–4.39), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good mental health (AOR = 2.16; CI = 1.39–3.38), non-smoker vs smoker (AOR = 1.80; CI = 1.19–2.71), and instrumental activity of daily living, yes vs no (AOR = 2.27; CI = 1.30–3.96). Conclusion: ‒ Understanding the several characteristics associated with pain severity in US adults ≥50 years who used an opioid may help transform healthcare approaches to prevention, education, and management of pain severity in later life.