Objectives: To determine the association of socioeconomic status and demographics with opioid use after hospital discharge in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Background: Opioids are frequently given for pain control to patients with aSAH both inpatient and at hospital discharge. However, the association of socioeconomic factors and demographics with continuation of opioid use after hospital discharge in these patients is unclear.

Design/Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of survivors of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who were admitted to an academic center from 2016 until 2020. We included patients with completed follow up data including information about opioid use for at least 3 months after hospital discharge. We tested the association of demographic factors, insurance status and median household income (based on the most recent census data from zip code areas) and 3-month post hospital discharge opioid use.

Results: We included 263 patients (mean age 57.2 years [SD 13.6], 61% female, 70% white). Opioid use at 3 months after hospital discharge was non-significantly higher in blacks (17%) compared to other races (14%). Patients who continued to use opioids at 3 months had more Medicaid insurance status (14% vs 10%) and lived more in zip code areas with median income of less than $ 60,000 per year (51% vs 43%) compared to others; however, these differences were both statistically insignificant.  

Conclusion: Socioeconomic status and demographics might affect continuation of opioid use after hospital discharge in patients with aSAH. Although this association did not meet statistical significance, this should be tested in larger cohorts with more diverse demographics.