Trends in Opioid Use Among Older Survivors of Colorectal, Lung, and Breast Cancers

PURPOSECancer survivors may be at increased risk for opioid-related harms. Trends in opioid use over time since diagnosis are unknown.METHODSUsing data from SEER and Medicare, we conducted multilevel logistic regression analyses to compare chronic opioid use (≥ 90 consecutive days) among opioid-naive survivors of colorectal, lung, and breast cancers diagnosed from 2008 to 2013 and matched with noncancer controls. Among cases and controls with chronic use, we compared rates of high-dose opioid use (average ≥ 90 morphine milligram equivalents daily).RESULTSWe included 46,789 survivors and 138,136 noncancer controls. In the first year after the index date (survivor’s diagnosis date), chronic use among colorectal and lung cancer survivors exceeded chronic use among controls (colorectal cancer: odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.47; lung cancer: odds ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.34 to 2.77). Differences in chronic use between survivors and controls declined each year after the index date. Chronic use among breast c...