TY - JOUR
T1 - Early Drug Prescription Patterns as Predictors of Final Workers Compensation Claim Costs and Closure
T2 - An Updated Analysis on an Expanded Cohort
AU - Tao, Xuguang
AU - Lavin, Robert A.
AU - Yuspeh, Larry
AU - Tsourmas, Nicholas F.
AU - Kalia, Nimisha
AU - Leung, Nina
AU - Williams, Leila
AU - Hunt, Dan L.
AU - Green-Mckenzie, Judith
AU - Bernacki, Edward J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - Objective The aim of the study is to determine the associations of workers' compensation claim costs and return to work with drugs prescribed for early symptom management. Methods Claims filed from 1998 to 2007 were followed for 10 years from the injury date. Drugs analyzed included gabapentin, pregabalin, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol, and opioids, controlling for initial reserve, sex, age, physical therapy, attorney involvement, and surgery. Results Gabapentin, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and sedatives used in the first 3 months after injury were significantly associated with higher claim cost (≥$100,000). All opioid morphine equivalent doses greater than or equal to 5 mg/d for the first 6 months was significantly associated with higher cost (≥$100,000) and not being released to work at end of third year after injury with dose-response relationships. Conclusions Prescription patterns in the first 3 months or first 6 months of workers' compensation claim development may be used as predictors of claim outcomes.
AB - Objective The aim of the study is to determine the associations of workers' compensation claim costs and return to work with drugs prescribed for early symptom management. Methods Claims filed from 1998 to 2007 were followed for 10 years from the injury date. Drugs analyzed included gabapentin, pregabalin, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol, and opioids, controlling for initial reserve, sex, age, physical therapy, attorney involvement, and surgery. Results Gabapentin, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and sedatives used in the first 3 months after injury were significantly associated with higher claim cost (≥$100,000). All opioid morphine equivalent doses greater than or equal to 5 mg/d for the first 6 months was significantly associated with higher cost (≥$100,000) and not being released to work at end of third year after injury with dose-response relationships. Conclusions Prescription patterns in the first 3 months or first 6 months of workers' compensation claim development may be used as predictors of claim outcomes.
KW - antidepressants
KW - antipsychotics
KW - attorney involvement
KW - benzodiazepines
KW - carisoprodol
KW - claim cost
KW - gabapentin
KW - occupational injury
KW - opioids
KW - pain management
KW - physical therapy
KW - pregabalin
KW - psychotropic drugs
KW - return to work
KW - sedatives
KW - workers' compensation
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U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002636
DO - 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002636
M3 - Article
C2 - 35902352
AN - SCOPUS:85143644914
SN - 1076-2752
VL - 64
SP - 1046
EP - 1052
JO - Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
JF - Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
IS - 12
ER -