Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with increased risk for psychological and substance use disorders. The study aim is to determine incidence and risk factors for persistent opioid prescription after hospitalization for TBI. Electronic medical records of patients age ≥ 18 admitted to a neuroscience intensive care unit between January 2013 and February 2017 for an intracranial injury were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcome was opioid use through 12 months post-hospital discharge. A total of 298 patients with complete data were included in the analysis. The prevalence of opioid use among preadmission opioid users was 48 (87%), 36 (69%) and 22 (56%) at 1, 6 and 12-months post-discharge, respectively. In the opioid naïve group, 69 (41%), 24 (23%) and 17 (19%) were prescribed opioids at 1, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Preadmission opioid use (OR 324.8, 95% CI 23.1–16907.5, p = 0.0004) and higher opioid requirements during hospitalization (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.8–16.3, p = 0.006) were independently associated with an increased risk of being prescribed opioids 12 months post-discharge. These factors may be used to identify and target at-risk patients for intervention.

BACKGROUND HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk for pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathy, portending a poor prognosis. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with worse outcomes in these conditions, yet its prevalence is poorly defined in HIV. We sought to determine the prevalence of RV dysfunction in an outpatient HIV cohort. METHODS Echocardiograms were evaluated in 104 HIV-infected adults. Measurements included estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PAP) and several measures of RV function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV longitudinal myocardial strain (RV LMS), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), and myocardial performance index (MPI). RESULTS Sixteen subjects (15%) had PAP>35 mm Hg, yet RV function did not differ significantly from those with normal estimated PAP. RV dysfunction defined by RVFAC < 35% occurred in 11%. RV LMS had a median value of −27.3% and individuals below the median had lower TAPSE, but no differences in LVEF, PAP, or other measures. Dyspnea was associated with the lowest quintile of RV LMS (≥−21.05%). There were 6 subjects with LVEF<50% and these individuals had lower TAPSE, but no difference PAP or other RV functional measures. CONCLUSIONS RV dysfunction was as common as estimated PAP>35 mm Hg and LV dysfunction, but these findings did not co-segregate. RV dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals may be a separate entity from LV/global cardiomyopathy or pulmonary hypertension and deserves further study.

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