Key result
Oral or transdermal opioid use was associated with a significantly higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to non-use (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.23-1.24; p<0.001).
Why the study?
The study aimed to investigate the association between opioid use and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Does opioid prescription increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adult patients?
Cohort (n=4,179,130)
Yes
Does opioid prescription increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adult patients?
Hazard Ratio: 1.24 (95% CI 1.23–1.24)
p-value: p=< 0.001
Opioid prescription is associated with a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality.
Opioid use was associated with higher MACE and CV mortality rates; leaves open confounding versus causation in this observational cohort.
Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between opioid use and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Methods: This study included adult patients who had received oral or transdermal opioids in 2016. The control group comprised individuals who did not receive opioids in 2016 and was selected using a 1:1 stratified random sampling procedure. A MACE was defined as the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, or cardiovascular mortality. The primary endpoints were new MACEs and cardiovascular mortality, as evaluated from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. Results: The study included 4,179,130 participants, of whom 1,882,945 (45.1%) were opioid users. After propensity score matching, 1,811,732 individuals (905,866 in each group) were included. Cox regression analysis revealed that the opioid user group had a 24% higher incidence of MACEs than the non-user group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23, 1.24; p < 0.001). Additionally, the opioid user group showed a 30% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality than the non-user group (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.35; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Opioid use was associated with an increased incidence of MACE and higher risk of cardiovascular mortality.
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Oh et al. (2025) reported a cohort. Oral or transdermal opioids vs. No opioids was evaluated on New major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.23-1.24, p=< 0.001). Oral or transdermal opioid use was associated with a significantly higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to non-use (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.23-1.24; p<0.001).
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