Uncovering predictors for post-surgical chronic opioid use
Penn Nursing researchers have identified several key predictors of whether a patient will continue using opioids long after the typical recovery period from surgical procedures.
1 min. read
A new systematic review and meta-analysis led by Penn Nursing researchers, published inPain Medicine, has identified the specific patient-related risk factors that most accurately predict which individuals are at the highest risk for New Persistent Opioid Use, a dangerous transition to long-term opioid use following recovery from surgical procedures.
The study, which synthesized data from 27 high-quality studies, found that four primary factors significantly increase the odds of a patient becoming a long-term opioid user following surgery: Medicaid enrollment, preoperative benzodiazepine use, mood disorders, and anxiety. Through a rigorous meta-analysis, the research team derived “pooled odds ratios,” which quantify how much each factor is associated with the odds of persistent use.
“Identifying who is at risk before the first incision is made is a critical step in combatting the opioid crisis,” said lead author and doctoral student Yoonjae Lee, DNP, APRN. “Our findings provide a roadmap for clinicians to implement targeted interventions, ensuring that high-risk patients receive enhanced monitoring and alternative pain management strategies.”
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
