New PhD thesis from DCE looks at use of opioids prior to hospital admission among the nonsurgical critically ill in relation to risk and prognosis
2018.12.20 |
Use of opioids prior to hospital admission is associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of critical illness. That is reported in a PhD thesis by PhD student at DCE Troels Munch, who is defended his dissertation today.
Morphine-like compounds, so-called opioids, are frequently used pain medication in the treatment of both acute and chronic pain. Opioids are known to be addictive. Additional side-effects on the cerebral, respiratory, and gastric system are also well-established. Recent evidence has indicated that opioids may also exert an effect on the hormonal, the immune, and the cardiovascular system. These side-effects could potentially increase risk of developing critical illness as well as lead to a poorer prognosis.
Troels and colleagues conducted two studies of the impact of use of prescribed opioids prior to hospital admission on the prognosis following admission to an intensive-care unit and following myocardial infarction. They also conducted a study of risk of developing pneumonia requiring hospital-admission following initiation of prescription-opioid use.
They found that users of preadmission prescribed opioid generally suffered a poorer prognosis following critical illness as well as were at an increased risk of developing pneumonia requiring hospital admission.