High Opioid Use Found in Older Arthritis Patients
A study analyzed 2021 prescription data from over 45,000 Medicare beneficiaries with various rheumatic conditions.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Arthritis
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Data from 2021 show that 43.13% of older patients with rheumatic diseases filled at least one opioid prescription, with 17.93% meeting the threshold for chronic use. The analysis involved 45,455 participants with a mean age of 75.8 years.
Why it matters
The findings highlight significant patterns in pain management, revealing that most opioid claims are written by clinicians outside of the rheumatology specialty. Socioeconomic factors and specific diagnoses like axial spondyloarthritis are key predictors of long-term opioid use.
A cross-sectional analysis of 45,455 Medicare patients indicates that 17.93% qualified as chronic opioid users in 2021. The study found that 62.60% of these opioid claims were initiated by non-rheumatology clinicians.
The players
Medicare
The federal health insurance program provides the administrative and claims data necessary for tracking large-scale medication use in older adults.
Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness
This registry tracks clinical data and quality measures specifically for rheumatology practices across the United States.
The details
Researchers linked the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness registry to Medicare claims to identify trends. Chronic use was defined as a 90-day supply of opioids, which showed stronger associations with patients in high-deprivation neighborhoods and those with mood or anxiety disorders.
Timeline
2021: Data collection period for opioid prescriptions and medical claims.
October 15, 2026: The study was published online.
The Big Picture
This research follows a pattern set by previous efforts to evaluate the implementation and impact of the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.
Patients with rheumatic conditions should discuss pain management strategies with their primary care providers, as most opioid claims originate outside of specialized rheumatology care. Those in higher-deprivation areas or with co-occurring anxiety may require closer monitoring for chronic opioid dependency.
The takeaway
Understanding the intersection of socioeconomic factors and clinical pain management can help improve safer prescribing habits. Patients are encouraged to review their current medication lists with their providers to ensure that chronic opioid use is necessary and appropriately managed.
Further reading
Explore more findings and resources in our Arthritis section.
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Do you trust specialists more than primary care doctors to manage your long-term pain prescriptions?
