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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often receive opioid analgesics for pain management. We examined the association between mental health conditions and the risk of chronic opioid therapy.A retrospective cohort of veterans with RA initiating opioid use was assembled using Veterans Health Administration databases (2001-2012). Mental health conditions included anxiety (N = 1108, 12.9%), depression (N = 1912, 22.2%), bipolar disease (N = 131, 1.5%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (N = 768, 8.9%) and were identified by ICD coded diagnoses and use of specific medications. Cohort members were followed from opioid initiation through chronic opioid therapy, defined as the continuous availability of opioids for at least 90 days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models assessed the association between mental health conditions and chronic opioid therapy accounting for relevant covariates. Subgroup analyses examined whether the strength of the observed association varied by the duration of the initial opioid prescription.We identified 14,767 patients with RA with 22,452 episodes of opioid use initiation. Mental health conditions were identified in 8607 (38.3%) patients. Compared with patients without mental health conditions, patients with mental health conditions have a higher risk of developing chronic opioid therapy (469.3 vs 378.1 per 1000 person-years, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.18, 95% CI 1.09, 1.29). The increased risk was highest for those with a history of opioid use disorder (aHR 1.94, 95% CI 1.09, 3.46) and also elevated for those with other substance use disorders (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.73). Duration of the initial opioid prescription was independently associated with chronic opioid therapy, regardless of the estimated opioid daily dose.History of mental health conditions and duration of the initial opioid prescription were associated with an increased risk of chronic opioid therapy among patients with RA.Key Points• Approximately a third of patients with RA are exposed to opioid analgesics.• Patients with RA and history of mental health disease, especially substance use disorders, who initiate opioid use have an increased risk of chronic opioid therapy.• This study provides insight in an underrepresented population of mainly male patients with RA.

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Opioid prescribing is common and increasing in certain areas of the country with known risk of misuse and dependence. Our study examined the association of opioid prescription at discharge after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) with emergency department (ED) care or all-cause readmission, intended healthcare utilization (follow-up with physician within 30 d of discharge and cardiac rehab participation), and all-cause mortality. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The Vanderbilt Inpatient Cohort Study is a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients age >18 enrolled with either ACS or ADHF between 2011 and 2015 (index hospitalization). We then excluded those who died during the index hospitalization, patients with hospitalization p=0.009) compared with those not discharged on opioid medications. Sensitivity analysis of patients who were prescribed prehospital opioids (including prehospital opioids in the exposure group with postdischarge opioids) did not reveal a statistically significant increase in mortality (aHR: 1.09, 95% CI 0.91, 1.31) or unintended healthcare utilization (aHR: 1.12, 95% CI 0.89, 1.41) among opioid users. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Morbidity and mortality related to opioid use is a public health concern. Our study demonstrates a statistically significant reduction in physician follow-up and participation in cardiac rehab among opioid users, both of which are known to decrease patient mortality. We did not find a statistically significant increase in unplanned healthcare utilization or mortality. Sensitivity analysis combining prehospital and posthospital opioid prescriptions did not reveal a statistically significant association between opioid use, hospital readmissions, or mortality. The hospital provides unique patient interactions where providers can make significant medical changes based on their patient’s clinical status. Continuing to understand the association between opioid use, healthcare utilization, morbidity, and mortality in recently hospitalized cardiac patients will provide data to support reduction in total opioid dose to improve clinical outcomes.