Students Research in Progress
Monday, October 14, 2024
01:00 PM–02:30 PM
Abstract
Introduction:
Chronic pain (pain lasting >3 months) is linked with decreased quality of life. Previously, we identified that among 349 transgender adults undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy in an academic medical system in the Pacific Northwest U.S. nearly half of patients (44%) had at least one type of chronic pain condition, including arthritis/joint pain, back/cervical pain, neuropathies/neuralgias, headaches/migraines and unclassified pain (e.g., fibromyalgia). Additionally, investigators have observed a high rate of opioid prescribing among transgender people with pain. Our goal was to examine the types of opioid and non-opioid pain medications prescribed for transgender people on hormone therapy to understand opportunities to manage pain within clinical settings providing gender-affirming medical care.
Research Question or Hypothesis: What types of pain medications (opioids, mild analgesics, muscle relaxants, psychotropic medications) are prescribed for transgender adults with chronic pain undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (HT, testosterone or estrogen)?
Study Design: Single-system, multicenter, retrospective analysis using electronic medical records.
Methods: We identified adults within University of Washington (UW) Medicine with transgender health-related visits (2007-2017; ICD 9th or 10th Revision diagnosis codes: 302.85; F64.1-9) and =1 HT order (index date=first HT order). We extracted the following medication orders within one year of HT: anti-rheumatic drug therapy, mild analgesics, muscle relaxants/antispasmodics. We extracted psychotropic medications that may be used off-label for chronic pain management (antidepressants, antipsychotics and antiseizure medications). We summarized data using medians (interquartile ranges) and frequencies (percentages).
Results: Of 154 transgender people (35 [28-48] years of age, 73% White, 10% Black, 14% Hispanic or Latino/a, 4% Asian) on hormone therapy with =1 chronic pain condition, 81% were prescribed =1 pain medication. Analysis of the types and classes of pain medications, and the number of pain medications prescribed per patient, are ongoing.
Conclusion: Most transgender people with chronic pain in UW Medicine received opioid and non-opioid pharmacotherapy for pain management. Analyses are ongoing.
Presenting Author
Michiko Hunter B.A.University of Washington
Authors
Lauren Cirrincione Pharm.D, MPH
University of Washington