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Chronic Opioid Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prevalence & Predictors

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Conclusion: Among RA patients, chronic opioid use doubled from 2002 to 2015. Pain and antidepressant use were the strongest predictors of chronic opioid use. To curb the rise in chronic opioid use, strategies for stringent control of RA disease activity and management of pain and depression should be research priorities.

Excerpted and adapted from:

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Lee YC, Kremer J, Guan H, et al. Chronic opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: Prevalence and predictors. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 May;71(5):670–677.

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