Myth and Truth in Opioid Consumption with Intrathecal Morphine Pump Implantation in Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study with Claims Database in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the opioid consumption and the healthcare resource utilization in patients with the intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) therapy and the comprehensive medical management (CMM) alone.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study with a customized claims database.

SETTING

In a university-based hospital.

SUBJECTS: Patients with complex regional pain syndrome, post-laminectomy syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

METHODS

Using propensity score matching (1:3), we selected patients with morphine infusion through IDDS (IDDS group) and CMM alone (CMM group). The primary endpoints were comparisons of average morphine equivalents daily dosages (MEDD, mg/day) for 6 and 12 months from an index date. The number of emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations and the total medical expenditures were compared as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 82 patients (N = 23 in the IDDS group and N = 59 in the CMM group) were analyzed. Although a 6-month average MEDD did not reach statistical significance, a 12-month average MEDD was significantly decreased in the IDDS group compared to the CMM group (53.2 ± 46.3 vs 123.9 ± 176.4, respectively; P = 0.008). ER visits were more frequent in the IDDS group than the CMM group at baseline (5.4 vs 0.5, respectively; P = .002), which was maintained for 12 months (P < 0.001). Otherwise, the number of hospitalization and the medical expenditures for pain management were not different between the groups for 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined IDDS therapy had some benefits in reducing opioid consumption for 1-year follow-up compared to the CMM alone in chronic noncancer pain patients.