# CHRONIC OPIOID THERAPY-ASSOCIATED PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES IN US WORKING OLDER ADULTS

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · 2020 · $78,596

## Abstract

Abstract
The most pervasive chronic condition, chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), is prevalent in up to nearly 40% of
working-aged older adults. Despite lack of robust evidence regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of opioids
for CNCP, and currently-available effective non-opioid treatments, many patients still receive opioid therapy.
Older adults are more likely to use prescription opioids than middle aged adults, and many adults with CNCP
who were initiated on opioids acutely, transition into chronic opioid therapy (COT) with adverse health
consequences. Our previous research has shown this transition, with the associated adverse health
consequences, can be predicted using a set of modifiable factors including opioid regimen characteristics.
Adding co-prescribed benzodiazepines to the opioid regimen can further increase these risks. Also, the labor
force is aging and 40% of adults 55 years and older are working or looking for work. Health related factors of
working-age older adults can burden both the employer and employee beyond the direct medical costs
associated with treating a condition. The purpose of this proposal is to quantify the productivity losses
associated with a transition to COT, with or without concurrent benzodiazepine therapy, among a growing
segment of the US workforce, working-aged older adults. A retrospective cohort design based on Truven
Health MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database linked with Heath and Productivity
Management (HPM) data will be used to (1) identify leading predictors of transitioning from acute to COT
among working-aged older adults (ages 50–64) without cancer, (2) evaluate the productivity losses associated
with transitioning from acute to COT in working-aged older adults without cancer, and (3) evaluate the
productivity losses associated with co-prescribing of a benzodiazepine to COT in working-aged older adults
without cancer. By providing estimates for losses in productivity associated with COT, stakeholders including
patients, health care providers, health care payers, and employers can better quantify the value of maintaining
a healthy workforce and justify increased spending on early risk mitigation efforts. With this research we strive
to reduce the impact of prescription drug misuse burden in working-age older Americans through evaluation of
safe and effective use of medications, particularly opioids.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10025587
- **Project number:** 5R03DA047597-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** James Douglas Thornton
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $78,596
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10025587

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10025587, CHRONIC OPIOID THERAPY-ASSOCIATED PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES IN US WORKING OLDER ADULTS (5R03DA047597-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10025587. Licensed CC0.

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