4.7 Article

Sex-Differences in Pain and Opioid Use Disorder Management: A Cross-Sectional Real-World Study

Journal

BIOMEDICINES
Volume 10, Issue 9, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092302

Keywords

opioid use disorder; sex-differences; chronic non-cancer pain; gender disparities; pain management; prevention programs

Funding

  1. Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research [UGP 21-116]
  2. Spanish Clinical Pharmacology Society

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This study aimed to explore potential sex differences in chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) outpatients. The results showed that there were sex differences in the individual risk profile related to opioid use disorder (OUD), indicating the need to consider these differences in designing prevention programs.
(1) Background: It is essential to focus attention on sex-specific factors which are clinically relevant in pain management, especially with regards to opioid use disorder (OUD) risk. The aim of this study was to explore potential sex-differences in chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) outpatients. (2) Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted under CNCP outpatients with long-term prescribed opioids (n = 806), wherein 137 patients had an OUD diagnosis (cases, 64% females) and 669 did not (controls, 66% females). Socio-demographic, clinical, and pharmacological outcomes were analyzed. (3) Results: Female controls presented an older age and less intensive pain therapy but higher psychotropic prescriptions and emergency department visits compared to male controls. Meanwhile, cases demonstrated a younger age, higher work disability, double morphine equivalent daily dose, and benzodiazepine use compared with controls. Here, female cases showed an 8% greater substance use disorder (OR 2.04 [1.11-3.76]) and 24% lower tramadol use, while male cases presented a 22% higher fentanyl use (OR 2.97 [1.52-5.81]) and reported the highest number of adverse drug reactions (24%, OR 2.40 [1.12-5.16]) compared with controls. (4) Conclusions: An OUD individual risk profile was evidenced with sex-differences to take into consideration to design equal prevention programs.

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