How perioperative processes and patient-reported outcomes contribute to persistent postoperative opioid use: A cohort study linking clinical and health claims data
Authors' conclusion
Perioperative opioids significantly contributed to the risk of PPOU, emphasising the need for careful opioid management postsurgery.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing surgery in 31 German hospitals in 2021 (QUIPS pain registry linked with BARMER insurance claims)1,849 analysed
- Participants
- 1,994 adults
- Outcome
- Persistent postoperative opioid use (PPOU): ≥1 opioid prescription within 90 days postdischarge and another between days 91 and 180
- Follow-up
- 180 days
Methodological detailsmulticentre, registry linked with health claims data
- Multicentre
- Registry linked with health claims data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PPOU incidence and risk factors
- Persistent postoperative opioid use (PPOU) overall
- 7.8%
- Preadmission opioid use (aOR)
- 20.8, P < 0.001
- Depression (aOR)
- 1.85, P = 0.006
- In-hospital opioid administration: increase in adjusted absolute PPOU risk (opioids on the ward standing out)
- 4%, P = 0.001
- Higher maximal pain intensity on POD1: increased absolute PPOU risk per point on 11-point NRS
- 0.5%, P = 0.023
- PONV (nausea) on POD1: decreased absolute PPOU risk
- 2.6%, P = 0.034
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
How perioperative processes and patient-reported outcomes contribute to persistent postoperative opioid use: A cohort study linking clinical and health claims data. Eur J Anaesthesiol. Published 3 September 2025. doi:10.
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