Association Between Opioid Use and the Development of Diverticulitis

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Project Status:
Completed
Project Line:
Health Technology Review
Project Sub Line:
Observational Study
Project Number:
OS0001-000

Opioids are commonly used to treat severe pain but can cause constipation. One important clinical question is whether they increase the risk of diverticulitis, an illness caused by the inflammation or infection of the small pouches in the colon.

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate whether short-term and long-term opioid use is associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis in patients treated with opioids for pain after surgery, trauma, dental procedures, or other pain indications.

The query was conducted in 2 parts: a feasibility study and a multicentre, retrospective, descriptive cohort study. Data sources included administrative health databases from 5 provinces in Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan), the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, and the US Merative MarketScan.