The influence of advanced age on long‐term postsurgical analgesic use in patients receiving neuraxial anaesthesia for elective surgery

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the relationship between age and long‐term postsurgical analgesic use in patients who underwent elective surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia.DesignRetrospective observational study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2015 to 2019.SettingNational Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.PatientsA total of 12,810 patients (6405 younger and 6405 older) matched using propensity score matching.InterventionsOlder (≥65 years).MeasurementsThe use of long‐term (3 or 6 months) postoperative analgesics, including opioids, as a surrogate marker of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) was analysed using logistic regression.Main ResultsAfter 3 months of surgery, older adults had higher use of all analgesics (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.03–1.28) and opioids (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.09–1.28) compared to younger patients. Similar results were observed after 6 months of surgery (all analgesic use: OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.03–1.20; opioid use: OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.07–1.81).ConclusionThe findings from this study suggest that older adults are more likely to experience CPSP and have increased use of long‐term analgesics, including opioids, after undergoing elective surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia. The study highlights the need for improved pain management strategies for older adults after surgery.SignificanceOlder age is an independent risk factor for long‐term analgesic use after surgery under neuraxial anaesthesiaanesthesia, indicating an increased risk for chronic postsurgical pain.