903 - Tobacco and opioid use in chronic pain

Objectives: Cigarette smoking has declined significantly in the US the past 2 decades. In the chronic pain population, rates have been higher than the general population overall, and some studies have noted minimal decline over the same time period. This projected evaluated chronic pain patients to assess current cigarette use and to evaluate for any correlation.

Design: After IRB approval, a survey was conducted in established chronic pain patients. The survey and results were anonymous, without collection of any identifiable information. The survey collected age, sex, cigarette use and opioid use.

Results: A total of 312 patients were surveyed. 198 females, 114 males. Average age was 57.8, 174 (55.8%) reported history of cigarette use (P=0.043), with 72 (23.2%) currently smoking (P=0.2). 66 patients (21.2%) were managed on chronic opioids (P=0.14), 36 female, 30 male (P=0.032).

Conclusions: Despite the decline of cigarette smoking in the US, chronic pain patients continue to smoke cigarettes at a significantly higher rate. Use of cigarettes significantly correlated with chronic pain. Additionally, in this study population, males and history of cigarette use correlated with current opioid use.