%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing the Trends of Tramadol Utilization in the Medicare Part D Population in Rhode Island.
%A Borrelli EP
%J R I Med J (2013)
%V 107
%N 5
%D 2024 May 2
%M 38687267
暂无%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To assess the trends in tramadol dispensing among Medicare Part D patients in Rhode Island.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>An analysis was conducted of the Medicare Part D Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File for the years 2013-2021. Chi squared tests were conducted to assess statistical significance of annual changes in proportions.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Following tramadol becoming a controlled substance in 2014, the number of dispensed tramadol prescriptions and patients with a tramadol prescription decreased every subsequent year through 2021 (prescriptions: 42,157 to 33,026; patients: 12,654 to 9,653). The percentage of opioid prescriptions that were tramadol increased from 16.32% in 2013 to 21.19% in 2020.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Tramadol utilization has been decreasing among the Medicare Part D population in Rhode Island while the percentage of opioid dispensings that were tramadol have been increasing. Future studies are needed to assess whether patients utilizing tramadol are at a higher risk for adverse outcomes.