Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of prescription opioid use in a longitudinal community-based cohort study of middle-aged and older adults

Chronic pain prevalence in the United States is likely to increase with an aging population. While opioids have commonly been prescribed to manage pain, their use may be more likely in certain patients. The objective of the study is to assess predictors of prescription opioid use in an adult population with a high prevalence of chronic pain. The simultaneous assessment of a breadth of clinical and sociodemographic factors identified polypharmacy, pain catastrophizing, and depressive symptoms as modifiable predictors of prescription opioid use. These findings support the incorporation of pharmacological review and behavioral approaches into chronic pain management strategies