What does this research mean for the field?

Polypharmacy involving three or more drug classes, as well as individual use of opioids or antiseizure medications, significantly increases the risk of high-cost workers' compensation claims for occupational ankle sprains. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Evaluate pharmacy utilization patterns and polypharmacy as independent predictors of high-cost workers' compensation claims (≥$50,000) for occupational ankle sprains.

September 8, 2026Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Pharmacy Utilization Patterns and Polypharmacy as Predictors of High-Cost Workers’ Compensation Claims: An Updated Cohort Study of Occupational Ankle Sprains

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Authors

XTXu-Guang Tao MIMarcos A. Iglesias NKNimisha Kalia

Discussion

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Overview

Cohort study reveals that opioid use, antiseizure drugs, and polypharmacy predict high-cost claims in workers with ankle sprains, indicating early drug tracking can curb financial escalation.

Key Points

Evaluate pharmacy utilization patterns and polypharmacy as independent predictors of high-cost workers' compensation claims (≥$50,000) for occupational ankle sprains.
Integrated Pharmacy Benefit Management data into a 9-year cohort of 18,991 occupational ankle sprain claims.
Applied multivariable logistic regression to model individual drug classes and multi-class combinations, adjusting for demographics, industry, litigation, physical complications, treatments, and comorbidities.
Individual use of antiseizure medications (OR: 4.21; 95% CI: 3.28–5.39) and opioids (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.78–2.69) significantly elevated the odds of high-cost claims.
Exclusive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use demonstrated no elevated risk of high costs (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.76–1.20).
Polypharmacy involving three or more flagged drug classes was associated with a 7.71-fold increase in cost escalation (95% CI: 6.08–9.77).

Cite This Study

Tao et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7ab58e84d0ff5b468a5 https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000003875

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September 8, 2026Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Pharmacy Utilization Patterns and Polypharmacy as Predictors of High-Cost Workers’ Compensation Claims: An Updated Cohort Study of Occupational Ankle Sprains

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

XTXu-Guang Tao MIMarcos A. Iglesias NKNimisha Kalia

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cohort study reveals that opioid use, antiseizure drugs, and polypharmacy predict high-cost claims in workers with ankle sprains, indicating early drug tracking can curb financial escalation.

Key Points

Evaluate pharmacy utilization patterns and polypharmacy as independent predictors of high-cost workers' compensation claims (≥$50,000) for occupational ankle sprains.
Integrated Pharmacy Benefit Management data into a 9-year cohort of 18,991 occupational ankle sprain claims.
Applied multivariable logistic regression to model individual drug classes and multi-class combinations, adjusting for demographics, industry, litigation, physical complications, treatments, and comorbidities.
Individual use of antiseizure medications (OR: 4.21; 95% CI: 3.28–5.39) and opioids (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.78–2.69) significantly elevated the odds of high-cost claims.
Exclusive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use demonstrated no elevated risk of high costs (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.76–1.20).
Polypharmacy involving three or more flagged drug classes was associated with a 7.71-fold increase in cost escalation (95% CI: 6.08–9.77).

Cite This Study

Tao et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7ab58e84d0ff5b468a5 https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000003875

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark