Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Opioid Prescriptions in Benign and Malignant Pancreatic Disease in the United States

Abstract

Objectives Racial-ethnic disparities in pain management are common but not known among pancreatic disease patients. We sought to evaluate racial-ethnic disparities in opioid prescriptions for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer patients. Methods Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used to examine racial-ethnic and sex differences in opioid prescriptions for ambulatory visits by adult pancreatic disease patients. Results We identified 207 pancreatitis and 196 pancreatic cancer patient visits, representing 9.8 million visits, but weights were repealed for analysis. No sex differences in opioid prescriptions were found among pancreatitis (P = 0.78) or pancreatic cancer patient visits (P = 0.57). Opioids were prescribed at 58% of Black, 37% of White, and 19% of Hispanic pancreatitis patient visits (P = 0.05). Opioid prescriptions were less common in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic pancreatitis patients (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.91; P = 0.03). We found no racial-ethnic differences in opioid prescriptions among pancreatic cancer patient visits. Conclusions Racial-ethnic disparities in opioid prescriptions were observed in pancreatitis, but not pancreatic cancer patient visits, suggesting possible racial-ethnic bias in opioid prescription practices for patients with benign pancreatic disease. However, there is a lower threshold for opioid provision in the treatment of malignant, terminal disease.