Characteristics of participants who were dispensed controlled-release oxycodone before introduction of the tamper-resistant formulation (2014) and during the control period (2013) in Australia
| Characteristic | No. (%) of participants,* 2013 cohort n = 6702 | No. (%) of participants,* 2014 cohort n = 6195 | Standardized difference† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age group, yr | |||
| < 45 | 1365 (20.4) | 1247 (20.1) | 0.05 |
| 45–64 | 2642 (39.4) | 2588 (41.8) | |
| 65–79 | 1753 (26.2) | 1563 (25.2) | |
| ≥ 80 | 942 (14.1) | 797 (12.9) | |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 3444 (51.4) | 3155 (50.9) | 0.01 |
| Male | 3258 (48.6) | 3040 (49.1) | |
| No. of unique nonopioid medications, median (IQR) | 6 (3–9) | 6 (3–9) | −0.02 |
| Dispensing characteristics for oxycodone CR | |||
| Maximum strength dispensed, mg | |||
| 10–30 | 5143 (76.7) | 4694 (75.8) | 0.02 |
| 40–80 | 1559 (23.3) | 1501 (24.2) | |
| No. of dispensings per participant, median (IQR) | 3 (2–5) | 3 (2–5) | 0.02 |
| Other medications with sedative properties co-dispensed within 30 d of oxycodone CR | |||
| Antipsychotic | 474 (7.1) | 442 (7.1) | 0.002 |
| Benzodiazepine | 1945 (29.0) | 1819 (29.4) | 0.08 |
| Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor | 858 (12.8) | 817 (13.2) | 0.01 |
| Tricyclic antidepressant | 966 (14.4) | 887 (14.3) | −0.003 |