Opioid use disorder is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with gastroparesis

BACKGROUND: Opioid use disorder (OUD) epidemic has been declared a nationwide public health emergency by the Department of Health and Human Services. There are limited data regarding OUD in patients with gastroparesis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of OUD on the outcomes in patients hospitalized with gastroparesis and to delineate the trends associated with OUD and gastroparesis using a nationally representative sample. METHODS: We used the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample database from 2005-2014 to identify patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of gastroparesis (ICD 9 Code: 536.3) and a concurrent diagnosis of OUD. We used Pearson chi-square analysis to compare demographics, the independent samples t-test to assess differences in length of stay and cost of care, and multivariate regression analysis to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2014, a total of 145,700 patients with a primary diagnosis of gastroparesis were hospitalized in the United States, of whom 4519 (3.1%) had a concurrent diagnosis of OUD. The prevalence of OUD in gastroparesis doubled from 2.1% in 2005 to 4.3% in 2014. After adjusting for confounders, patients with OUD had greater in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.1-3.5). Patients with OUD also had significantly longer hospital stays and higher costs. Independent predictors of OUD in patients with gastroparesis were younger age, female sex, alcohol use, depression, and Medicaid insurance. CONCLUSION: OUD in patients with gastroparesis is associated with greater mortality and healthcare resource utilization.