Hospital Based Study to Determine the Characteristics and Risk Factors for Opioid Analgesics Prescription in Post-Operative Patients

Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for managing post-surgical pain, but prolonged and excessive opioid use can lead to dependence, misuse, and public health concerns. This prospective, observational study aimed to analyze the characteristics and identify risk factors for post-operative opioid use in a tertiary care hospital. The study included 338 patients, with a mean age of 57.35 years, of whom 65.08% were prescribed opioids during hospitalization and 57.98% upon discharge. Tramadol, both in tablet and injection form, was the most commonly prescribed opioid, followed by morphine and buprenorphine patches. Patients were prescribed opioids for durations ranging from 1 to 29 days, with a large proportion receiving opioids for acute pain management (1-5 days). Risk factors for opioid prescription included male gender, age between 31-50 years, lower income, lower educational status, and a medical history of pain (e.g., migraine, osteoarthritis). Pre-hospital analgesic use was found to increase the likelihood of post-operative opioid prescription, especially among patients with a history of using multiple analgesics or long-term use of analgesics prior to hospital admission. The study highlights the need for cautious opioid prescribing to minimize the risk of misuse and long-term dependence. Tailored pain management strategies, including the combination of opioid and non-opioid analgesics, are crucial to reducing opioid consumption and preventing the potential for opioid-related harm in post-surgical patients. Further research is recommended to explore more effective pain management alternatives and address the ongoing opioid epidemic.