Childhood opioid prescription rates vary by patient’s background, research finds

Children born to greater socioeconomic backgrounds are significantly more likely to be prescribed opioids, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27–Oct. 1.

The abstract, “Overprescription of Opioids in White Children from Higher Socioeconomic Backgrounds: Disparities in Opioid Utilization for Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures,” looked at the rates in opioid prescriptions following childhood broken elbow diagnoses from 2012 to 2021.

Apurva Shah, MD, MBA, Attending Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who authored the abstract, also pointed to results that showed a third of patients in the abstract received at least one opioid dose during their visit.

“As orthopedic surgeons, we clearly need improved opioid use stewardship to improve health care outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Shah said.

Results found disparities in patient racial backgrounds, with Black children 27% less likely to receive an opioid prescription compared to other patients. By comparison, white patients were also shown to be 10% more likely to be given opioids.

Other factors that impacted patients’ likelihood of being given opioids included age and where they live, according to Dr. Shah.

“Non-opioid pain management has proven sufficient for pain management,” Dr. Shah said. “Knowing this, along with this abstract, pediatricians must consider the potential harm these drugs can have on populations with disproportionately easier access to health care.”