Background
Increased long-term prescribing of opioids and/or benzodiazepines necessitates evaluating risks associated with their receipt. We sought to evaluate the association between long-term opioids and/or benzodiazepines and mortality in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and uninfected patients.
Methods
Prospective analysis of all-cause mortality using multivariable methods and propensity score matching among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and uninfected patients.
Results
From 64,602 available patients (16,989 HIV-infected and 47,613 uninfected), 27,128 (long-term opioids and/or benzodiazepines exposed and unexposed) were 1:1 matched by propensity score. The hazard ratio (HR) for death was 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.61) for long-term opioid receipt, 1.26 (95% CI 1.08-1.48) for long-term benzodiazepine receipt, and 1.56 (95% CI 1.26-1.92) for long-term opioid and benzodiazepine receipt. There was an interaction (p= 0.01) between long-term opioid receipt and HIV status with mortality. For long-term opioid receipt, the HR was 1.46 (95% CI 1.15-1.87) among HIV-infected patients, and 1.25 (95% CI 1.05 – 1.49) among uninfected patients. Mortality risk was increased for patients receiving both long-term opioids and benzodiazepines when opioid doses were ≥20mg morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) and for patients receiving long-term opioids alone when doses were ≥50mg MEDD.
Conclusions
Long-term opioid receipt was associated with an increased risk of death; especially with long-term benzodiazepine receipt, higher opioid doses and among HIV-infected patients. Long-term benzodiazepine receipt was associated with an increased risk of death regardless of opioid receipt. Strategies to mitigate risks associated with these medications, and caution when they are co-prescribed, are needed particularly in HIV-infected populations.
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