Preexisting Psychiatric Risk Factors and Any and Long-Term Opioid Use in Head and Neck Cancer.

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC), one of the most emotionally distressing cancers, carries a significant burden of psychiatric comorbidities. While opioids are commonly prescribed in cancer care, the association between preexisting psychiatric risk factors and prescription opioid use in HNC remains unclear.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that preexisting psychiatric risk factors are associated with any opioid prescription and long-term opioid therapy in patients with HNC.

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study used deidentified data from the Optum electronic health record database, comprising a random sample of 5 million patients across the US between January 2010 and December 2018. Eligible patients were adults diagnosed with HNC. Using a 2-year look-back prior to the index date of HNC diagnosis, patients who used prescription opioids prior to HNC diagnosis were excluded. The data analysis was conducted between July 2022 and July 2023.

Main outcomes and measures: Outcomes of interest were receipt of any prescription opioid within 12 months of index HNC and long-term opioid therapy (LTOT), defined as 10 or more opioid prescriptions within 12 months of index HNC. Psychiatric risk factors included anxiety disorders, depression, smoking/nicotine dependence, substance use disorders, and benzodiazepine prescription. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the odds of opioid use based on preexisting psychiatric factors.

Results: Of 20 286 patients with an HNC diagnosis, 11 335 met all eligibility criteria. Patients in the analytic cohort had a mean (SD) age of 57.1 (15.5) years, and 55.4% were female. Within 12 months of HNC diagnosis, 23.4% received an opioid prescription, and 4.9% received LTOT. In fully adjusted models, depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.45), nicotine dependence (aOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.40-1.73), and benzodiazepine comedication (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.22-1.70) were associated with increased odds of receiving any opioid prescription. Furthermore, male patients had 49% greater odds of receiving opioid prescriptions (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.36-1.64). Only smoking/nicotine dependence was associated with increased odds of LTOT (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.21-2.61).

Conclusions and relevance: Preexisting psychiatric comorbidities, especially depression and smoking/nicotine dependence, were associated with increased odds of prescription opioid use and LTOT in patients with HNC in this longitudinal cohort study. Screening for these comorbidities during the management of patients with HNC can be impactful in informing clinical decisions that contribute to safer opioid prescribing.