Takeaway
- Nearly one-quarter of opioid users develop opioid-induced oesophageal dysfunction (OIED), which is significantly more common in patients receiving higher doses and in those receiving oxycodone or hydrocodone vs tramadol.
- The link was especially strong in patients who used oxycodone alone vs oxycodone+acetaminophen.
Why this matters
- Although opioid-induced bowel dysfunction is a well-known adverse effect of opioid consumption, data on oesophageal motility and function are lacking.
Study design
- Retrospective study of opioid users (≥3 months; n=225) who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) between January 2012 and January 2018.
- Funding: None.
Key results
- Before undergoing HRM, patients were receiving oxycodone (n=68), hydrocodone (n=97), and tramadol (n=60).
- 24% (n=55) of the opioid users had OIED, which was significantly more common with oxycodone or hydrocodone than with tramadol (31% vs 28% vs 12%; P=.016).
- Patients with OIED were taking a higher median 24-hour morphine equivalent dose of opioids than those without OIED (45 mg/day vs 30 mg/day; P=.058).
- OIED was more common for patients using oxycodone alone vs oxycodone+acetaminophen (43% vs 21%; P=.048).
- However, there was no difference in OIED with hydrocodone alone vs with acetaminophen (29.4% vs 26.9%; P=.799).
Limitations
- Retrospective design.
Coauthored with Chitra Ravi, MPharm
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