Sleep-disordered breathing in patients on opioids for chronic pain. Issue 10 (13th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Selvanathan, Janannii; Peng, Philip W H; Wong, Jean; Ryan, Clodagh M; Chung, Frances
• Is Part Of: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Volume 45:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 826
• Page End: 830
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13
• Subjects: chronic pain -- analgesics, opioid -- drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; Conduction anesthesia -- Periodicals; Pain medicine -- Periodicals; 617.964
• DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2020-101540
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-7339

Abstract

Abstract : The past two decades has seen a substantial rise in the use of opioids for chronic pain, along with opioid-related mortality and adverse effects. A contributor to opioid-associated mortality is the high prevalence of moderate/severe sleep-disordered breathing, including central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, in patients with chronic pain. Although evidence-based treatments are available for sleep-disordered breathing, patients are not frequently assessed for sleep-disordered breathing in pain clinics. To aid healthcare providers in this area of clinical uncertainty, we present evidence on the interaction between opioids and sleep-disordered breathing, and the prevalence and predictive factors for sleep-disordered breathing in patients on opioids for chronic pain. We provide recommendations on how to evaluate patients on opioids for risk of moderate/severe sleep-disordered breathing in clinical care, which could lead to earlier use of therapeutic interventions for opioid-associated sleep-disordered breathing, such as opioid cessation or positive airway pressure therapy. This would improve quality of life and well-being of patients with chronic pain.