As many as 30% of presurgical patients with end-stage knee, hip or spine osteoarthritis use prescription opioids, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

“A large proportion of the population has OA, and from a societal perspective, the use of opioids for OA has the potential to have a significant impact on the number of opioids in circulation,” J. Denise Power, PhD, of the Krembil Research Institute at the University Health Network, in Toronto, told Healio Rheumatology. “For the individual patient, in addition to risks of dependence and addiction, there is also increasing evidence that opioids may be no more effective in relieving OA pain than NSAIDs. For surgical patients, opioid use before surgery may negatively impact outcomes and increase the risk of adverse events.”