Original Title: Usage des opioïdes d’ordonnance pour la douleur chez les personnes de 65 ans et plus au Québec

Authors' objectives: Following on from the Canada’s Drug Agency report entitled Trends in Opioid Prescribing in Canada, 2018-2022, this report aims to paint a picture of the use of prescription opioids for pain in Quebecers aged 65 years and older.

Authors' results and conclusions: RESULTS: From 2018 to 2024, there was a slight decrease in the initiation of high-dose treatments (> 50 MME/day) in favour of low-dose treatments (≤ 50 MME/day). During this same period, the proportion of hydromorphone prescriptions among prescription opioid users increased, while that of prescriptions for the other opioids used for pain (such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone) decreased. CONCLUSION: This study shows a decrease, from 2018 to 2024, in the prevalence and incidence of opioid prescriptions for pain in individuals aged 65 years and older, and regional and sociodemographic differences associated with their use. It also shows that a considerable proportion of opioid toxicities in the elderly involved individuals who had previously been given an opioid prescription for pain.

Authors' methods: This study is based on a cohort of individuals 65 years of age and older who were enrolled continuously in the public prescription drug insurance program (RPAM) from 2018 to 2024. The following clinical administrative databases were used: FIPA, SMED, MED-ECHO and BDCU. Opioid prescriptions dispensed at community pharmacies for the treatment of pain were identified for the purpose of determining the prevalence and incidence of these treatments with a view to performing a descriptive analysis based on demographic and treatment-related characteristics. Opioid toxicity emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations were analyzed in relation to opioid prescriptions according to three time categories: prescriptions issued within the 180 days preceding the event, those issued within the 30 days preceding the event, and those that were active at the time of the event.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2025

URL for published report: https://www.inesss.qc.ca/publications/repertoire-des-publications/publication/usage-des-opioides-dordonnance-pour-la-douleur-chez-les-personnes-de-65-ans-et-plus-au-quebec.html

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Other

Country: Canada

Province: Quebec

Organisation Name: Institut national d'excellence en sante et en services sociaux

Contact Address: L'Institut national d'excellence en sante et en services sociaux (INESSS) , 2021, avenue Union, bureau 10.083, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2S9;Tel: 1+514-873-2563, Fax: 1+514-873-1369

Contact Name: demande@inesss.qc.ca

Contact Email: demande@inesss.qc.ca

Copyright: L'Institut national d'excellence en sante et en services sociaux (INESSS)