1. Health Outcomes Among Long-term Opioid Users With Testosterone Prescription in the Veterans Health Administration
- Author
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Adam J. Rose, Dan R. Berlowitz, Joel I. Reisman, Guneet K. Jasuja, Omid Ameli, Donald R. Miller, and Shalender Bhasin
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Anemia ,Veterans Health ,Endocrine System Diseases ,law.invention ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Internal medicine ,Cause of Death ,Androgen deficiency ,medicine ,Humans ,Testosterone ,Medical prescription ,Original Investigation ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,business.industry ,Research ,Incidence ,Testosterone (patch) ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Opioid-Related Disorders ,United States ,Online Only ,Diabetes and Endocrinology ,Treatment Outcome ,Opioid ,Cardiovascular Diseases ,Androgens ,Spinal Fractures ,business ,Femoral Fractures ,Mace ,medicine.drug ,Cohort study ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
This cohort study analyzes the association between testosterone and opioid use and improved health outcomes among male US military veterans with opioid-induced androgen deficiency., Key Points Question What are the health outcomes among long-term opioid users who receive testosterone treatment compared with opioid users who do not? Findings In this cohort study of 21 272 male long-term opioid users with testosterone deficiency, those who received opioids plus testosterone therapy had significantly lower all-cause mortality and lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, anemia, and femoral or hip fractures than their counterparts who received opioids only in covariate-adjusted and propensity score–matched models. Meaning This study’s findings suggest that receiving opioids plus testosterone treatment is associated with lower all-cause mortality and a lower incidence of other adverse health outcomes among men with opioid-induced androgen deficiency., Importance Androgen deficiency is common among male opioid users, and opioid use has emerged as a common antecedent of testosterone treatment. The long-term health outcomes associated with testosterone therapy remain unknown, however. Objective To compare health outcomes between long-term opioid users with testosterone deficiency who filled testosterone prescriptions and those with the same condition but who did not receive testosterone treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study focused on men in the care of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities throughout the United States from October 1, 2008, to September 30, 2014. It included male veterans who were long-term opioid users, had low testosterone levels (
- Published
- 2019