Key result
Long-term tramadol linked to ~41% higher risk of surgical hip fracture in older adults.
Why the study?
Tramadol is widely used for arthritic pain but has adverse effects, and its association with subsequent hip fractures in older adults with posttraumatic osteoarthritis required investigation.
Does long-term tramadol use (>90 days within 1 year) increase the risk of hip fracture requiring surgery compared to non-tramadol analgesics in adults aged 60 years or older with posttraumatic osteoarthritis?
Cohort (n=6,186)
Yes
Does long-term tramadol use (>90 days within 1 year) increase the risk of hip fracture requiring surgery compared to non-tramadol analgesics in adults aged 60 years or older with posttraumatic osteoarthritis?
Long-term tramadol use (>90 days/year) for posttraumatic osteoarthritis in older adults is associated with a 41% higher risk of hip fracture requiring surgery compared to non-tramadol analgesics, particularly among men and those aged 60–70 years.
Tramadol use was associated with higher hip fracture risk; leaves open causality and whether findings should alter prescribing pending randomized data.
Tramadol, an analgesic widely used for arthritic pain, is known to have adverse effects. This study investigated the association between the long-term use of tramadol for pain control and subsequent hip fractures in patients aged 60 years or older with posttraumatic osteoarthritis. This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients with posttraumatic osteoarthritis who received tramadol for pain control for more than 90 days within a 1-year period. A control cohort was enrolled using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of hip fracture requiring surgery. In total, 3093 patients were classified into each cohort. Tramadol use was identified as a risk factor for hip fracture (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–1.82; p = 0.008), especially among patients aged 60–70 years (aHR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.29–3.47; p = 0.003) and among male patients (aHR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.24–2.70; p = 0.002). This is the first cohort study focusing on the association between long-term tramadol use and hip fracture among older adults with posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Tramadol, as a long-term pain control analgesic for older adults with posttraumatic osteoarthritis, may increase the risk of hip fracture, especially among male patients and those aged 60–70 years.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wu et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Posttraumatic osteoarthritis of any major joint of upper or lower limbs (n=6,186). Long-term tramadol use (>90 days within 1 year) vs. Non-tramadol analgesics (NSAIDs, paracetamol, or muscle relaxants) was evaluated on New diagnosis of hip fracture requiring surgery (aHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09–1.82, p=0.008). Long-term tramadol use increased the risk of hip fracture requiring surgery compared to non-tramadol analgesics in older adults with posttraumatic osteoarthritis (aHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09–1.82; p=0.008).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: