In one large study of privately insured patients who had undergone vaginal delivery, 28.5% filled an opioid prescription for a median of 20 tablets of 5 mg (mg) oxycodone within six weeks of delivery. Opioids are commonly used in the management of postpartum pain, making obstetrics practitioners important stakeholders in this ongoing public health crisis. The role of the healthcare system in the perpetuation of this epidemic is clear, as 40% of opioid overdose related deaths are attributable to prescription narcotics. In the following year, this number continued to climb with 47,600 opioid overdoses in 2017. Of these deaths, 42,251 (66%) involved opioids overdoses. ConclusionĪt our large, academic hospital the number of tablets prescribed at discharge had no association with patient race or inpatient usage regardless of mode of delivery.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 63,000 people died from drug overdose in 2016. These findings persisted in sensitivity analyses. The number of inpatient opioid tablets consumed, as well as the number prescribed at discharge, were not statistically different between Black and White women, regardless of mode of delivery. White women were also significantly more likely to have private insurance and to experience perineal lacerations following vaginal delivery. White women undergoing cesarean delivery did so at a lower maternal BMI (31.6 vs. 27 years for vaginal delivery p < 0.01 for both). 30 years for cesarean delivery, and 29 vs. White women were more likely to be older at delivery regardless of route (median 32 vs. The median number of oxycodone tablets consumed during hospitalization following cesarean delivery was seven (IQR: 2.5–12 tablets) and following vaginal delivery was one (IQR: 0–3). Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed. Black women were compared to white women using multivariable logistic regression. Only “Black” and “White” women were included in analyses due to low absolute numbers of other identities. The primary outcome was the number of oxycodone 5 mg tablets prescribed at discharge, stratified by race and mode of delivery. Women with postoperative wound complications, third and fourth degree lacerations, cesarean hysterectomy, or a history of opioid abuse were excluded. MethodsĪ total of 416 women who were prescribed an oral opioid following vaginal or cesarean delivery at a single tertiary academic institution between July 2018 and October 2018 were identified. To identify the association between inpatient postpartum opioid consumption, race, and amount of opioids prescribed at discharge after vaginal or cesarean delivery.