Clinical Edge

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Opioids, Benzodiazepines Carry Greater Risk of COPD-Related Hospitalization

Key clinical point: Patients with COPD are at greater risk for hospitalization because of respiratory-related adverse events.

Major finding: In the 30 days before COPD-related hospitalization, use of opioids (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-1.97), use of benzodiazepines (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.21-1.66), and use of both opioids and benzodiazepines carried a significantly higher risk of hospitalization (aOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.94-2.77).

Study details: A Medicare database case-control study of 3,232 patients with COPD receiving opioids or benzodiazepines who were hospitalized for respiratory-related adverse events in 2014.

Disclosures: This study was supported by an award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and National Institutes of Health. Dr. Baillargeon had no disclosures.

Citation:

Baillargeon JG et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2019 Oct 1. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201901-024OC.