Opioids May Be Tied to an Increased Risk of Life-Threatening Infections

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined the effects of opioids on the human immune system, reports the New York Times . The research team examined 1,233 people with invasive pneumococcal disease, which is fatal in about 10 percent of cases, with higher death rates among seniors. These subjects were compared with 24,399 controls. Persons with invasive pneumococcal disease were 62 percent more likely than those in the control group to be using prescription opioids. The linkage was strongest for high-potency drugs such as oxycodone and for long-acting drugs such as methadone and transdermal fentanyl. The study controlled for factors that included sex, race, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. "We can't say that there's proof of a causal link here," notes Vanderbilt University's Andrew D. Wiese. "But providers should consider these findings when deciding whether to prescribe opioids, and in choosing what formulation to use. That's true for anyone, but especially for those we know are already at high risk for infection, like older adults."