Oregon's Death With Dignity Act: 20 Years of Experience to Inform the Debate

Twenty years ago, Oregon voters approved the Death With Dignity Act, making Oregon the first state in the United States to allow physicians to prescribe medications to be self-administered by terminally ill patients to hasten their death. This report summarizes the experience in Oregon, including the numbers and types of participating patients and providers. These data should inform the ongoing policy debate as additional jurisdictions consider such legislation.

Buprenorphine for Long-Term Chronic Pain Management: Still Looking for the Evidence

Buprenorphine for Long-Term Chronic Pain Management: Still Looking for the Evidence

In patients with chronic neuropathic pain, cannabinoids improve sleep and reduce pain vs. placebo

Source Citation McParland AL, Bhatia A, Matelski J, et al. Evaluating the impact of cannabinoids on sleep health and pain in patients with chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2022;48:180-190. 36598058

Navigating Acute Pain Management for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

Acute Pain Management in People With Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 178, No 4

Background: Guidance on acute pain management among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) is limited. Purpose: To synthesize evidence on the benefits and harms of acute pain interventions among people with OUD. Data Sources: APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycExtra, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science Core Collection through 7 July 2024. Study Selection: Studies of any design that evaluated acute pain interventions among adults with OUD and included pain or OUD outcomes. Data Extraction: Independent dual screening, single-investigator data extraction with verification, and dual quality and strength of evidence assessment. Data Synthesis: Seventeen trials, 20 controlled observational studies, and 78 uncontrolled observational studies met eligibility criteria. Continuing use of buprenorphine during acute pain episodes may be associated with similar or improved pain-related outcomes versus discontinuing, based on cohort studies conducted primarily in perioperative settings. Single well-conducted randomized controlled trials in emergency department (ED) or perioperative settings in adults not prescribed medications for OUD suggest oral clonidine, intramuscular haloperidol and midazolam with intravenous (IV) morphine, and intraoperative IV lidocaine may improve pain outcomes and warrant study in diverse patient populations. Few studies evaluated methadone or the effect of interventions on OUD outcomes. Limitations: Most evidence is observational and at risk of bias due to confounding. All studies were conducted in ED or hospital settings, most before widespread use of high-potency synthetic opioids or among non-U.S. populations using opium. Conclusion: The overall evidence for pain outcomes in people with OUD is low. The effect of pain interventions on OUD outcomes is an important evidence gap. Primary Funding Source: None. (Protocol registered a priori on Open Science Framework [https://osf.io/25hbs])

An online exercise program plus automated coping skills training improved pain and function in chronic knee pain

Source Citation Bennell KL, Nelligan R, Dobson F, et al. Effectiveness of an internet-delivered exercise and pain-coping skills training intervention for persons with chronic knee pain: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166:453-62. 28241215

Oncology: What You May Have Missed in 2023

Advances in oncology treatment methods have improved outcomes and quality of life for patients with cancer. However, care of these patients can be complex, and the contribution of physicians from different specialties is crucial. This article highlights important publications from 2023 on topics across a wide spectrum relating to the management of oncology patients. The literature was screened for significant new evidence that is relevant to internal medicine specialists and subspecialists whose focus is not oncology. Two articles address the importance of social interventions targeting end-of-life care for low-income and minority patients and the well-being of caregivers. Two additional articles address screening considerations in patients at risk for colorectal and lung cancer. Two more articles address safe use of hormone-related therapies to treat symptoms of menopause and prevent disease recurrence or progression in patients diagnosed with noninvasive breast neoplasia. Finally, several articles were included on topics related to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer, use of cannabinoids for cancer pain control, chronic autoimmune adverse effects related to use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the incidence of second primary neoplasms.

Clinical and Adverse Outcomes Associated With Concomitant Use of CYP2D6-Metabolized Opioids With Antidepressants in Older Nursing Home Residents: A Target Trial Emulation Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 8

Background: Limited evidence exists on the safety of pharmacokinetic interactions of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 (CYP2D6)-metabolized opioids with antidepressants among older nursing home (NH) residents. Objective: To investigate the associations of concomitant use of CYP2D6-metabolized opioids and antidepressants with clinical outcomes and opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). Design: Retrospective cohort study using a target trial emulation framework. Setting: 100% Medicare NH sample linked to Minimum Data Set (MDS) from 2010 to 2021. Participants: Long-term residents aged 65 years and older receiving CYP2D6-metabolized opioids with a disease indication for antidepressant use. Intervention: Initiating CYP2D6-inhibiting versus CYP2D6-neutral antidepressants that overlapped with use of CYP2D6-metabolized opioids for 1 day or more. Measurements: Clinical outcomes were worsening pain, physical function, and depression from baseline to quarterly MDS assessments and were analyzed using modified Poisson regression models. The ORAE outcomes included counts of pain-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits, opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid overdose and were analyzed with negative binomial or Poisson regression models. All models were adjusted for baseline covariates via inverse probability of treatment weighting. Results: Among 29 435 identified residents, use of CYP2D6-metabolized opioids concomitantly with CYP2D6-inhibiting (vs. CYP2D6-neutral) antidepressants was associated with a higher adjusted rate ratio of worsening pain (1.13 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.17]) and higher adjusted incidence rate ratios of pain-related hospitalization (1.37 [CI, 1.19 to 1.59]), pain-related ED visit (1.49 [CI, 1.24 to 1.80]), and OUD (1.93 [CI, 1.37 to 2.73]), with no difference in physical function, depression, and opioid overdose. Limitation: Findings are generalizable to NH populations only. Conclusion: Use of CYP2D6-metabolized opioids concomitantly with CYP2D6-inhibiting (vs. CYP2D6-neutral) antidepressants was associated with worsening pain and increased risk for most assessed ORAEs among older NH residents. Primary Funding Source: National Institute on Aging.

Trends in Concurrent Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescriptions in the United States, 2016 to 2019