OBJECTIVES

: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of opioid use in back pain and arthritis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

: Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, participants must have back pain or arthritis for three of the five rounds, have no opioid use in Round 1 of the survey, and be cancer-free. Opioid use was evaluated in Rounds 2-4. Outcome measures, assessed in Round 4, were HRQoL [represented by the Mental Component Score (MCS) and the Physical Component Score (PCS)] and subdomains of MCS [Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), Role Emotional (RE), and Overall Mental Health (MH)] and PCS [Bodily Pain (BP), Physical Functioning (PF), Role Functioning (RF), and General Overall Health (GH)]. Estimated propensity for opioid use was used in a 1:1 Greedy match. Linear regressions were used to analyze outcomes after matching.

RESULTS

: