2022
Self-Reported Cannabis Use and HIV Viral Control among Patients with HIV Engaged in Care: Results from a National Cohort Study
Bahji A, Li Y, Vickers-Smith R, Crystal S, Kerns RD, Gordon KS, Macmadu A, Skanderson M, So-Armah K, Sung ML, Bhondoekhan F, Marshall BDL, Edelman EJ. Self-Reported Cannabis Use and HIV Viral Control among Patients with HIV Engaged in Care: Results from a National Cohort Study. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 5649. PMID: 35565045, PMCID: PMC9101884, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095649.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnti-HIV AgentsCannabisCohort StudiesFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMedication AdherenceMiddle AgedSelf ReportViral LoadConceptsDetectable viral loadPast-year cannabis useViral loadAntiretroviral therapyCannabis useCohort studyUnadjusted analysesViral controlDetectable HIV viral loadVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHIV viral controlHIV viral loadAging Cohort StudyFirst study visitHIV-1 RNANational cohort studyBenefits of cannabisSelf-reported cannabis usePast-year useMean ageStudy visitHigher oddsPWHSignificant associationSubstance useLongitudinal analysis of the prevalence and correlates of heavy episodic drinking and self‐reported opioid use among a national cohort of patients with HIV
Oldfield BJ, Li Y, Vickers‐Smith R, Barry DT, Crystal S, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Williams EC, Marshall BDL, Edelman EJ. Longitudinal analysis of the prevalence and correlates of heavy episodic drinking and self‐reported opioid use among a national cohort of patients with HIV. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2022, 46: 600-613. PMID: 35257397, PMCID: PMC9018502, DOI: 10.1111/acer.14801.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSelf-reported opioid useOpioid useHeavy episodic drinkingNational cohortRisk factorsDepressive symptomsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyVeterans Health Administration sitesOpioid-related risksHIV disease progressionModifiable risk factorsPast-year cigarette smokingAging Cohort StudyGreater illness severityEpisodic drinkingOpioid-related overdoseHigh-risk drinkingCohort studyProspective cohortIllness severityCigarette smokingClinical correlatesDisease progressionLower oddsMultinomial logistic regression
2021
Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of gabapentin receipt with and without opioids among a national cohort of patients with HIV
Oldfield BJ, Li Y, Vickers-Smith R, Becker WC, Barry DT, Crystal S, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Rentsch CT, Marshall BDL, Edelman EJ. Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of gabapentin receipt with and without opioids among a national cohort of patients with HIV. AIDS Care 2021, 34: 1053-1063. PMID: 34114904, PMCID: PMC8664891, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1939851.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidChronic PainCohort StudiesGabapentinHIV InfectionsHumansOpioid-Related DisordersProspective StudiesConceptsOpioid useHigh dosesSelf-reported opioid useVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHigh-dose opioidsMean daily doseAging Cohort StudyHigh-dose benzodiazepinesNational prospective cohortOpioid doseOpioid receiptCohort studyFoot painProspective cohortDaily doseIndependent predictorsChronic painPain interferenceClinical variablesClinical correlatesNational cohortMultinomial logistic regressionPWHLogistic regressionOpioidsLong-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, VACS Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care
Adams JW, Li Y, Barry DT, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Oldfield BJ, Rentsch CT, Marshall BDL, Edelman EJ. Long-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, VACS Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care. AIDS And Behavior 2021, 25: 2951-2962. PMID: 33569682, PMCID: PMC8442670, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03162-7.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
All-cause mortality among males living with and without HIV initiating long-term opioid therapy, and its association with opioid dose, opioid interruption and other factors
Gordon K, Manhapra A, Crystal S, Dziura J, Edelman E, Skanderson M, Kerns R, Justice A, Tate J, Becker W. All-cause mortality among males living with and without HIV initiating long-term opioid therapy, and its association with opioid dose, opioid interruption and other factors. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2020, 216: 108291. PMID: 33011662, PMCID: PMC7644145, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108291.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMorphine equivalent daily doseCause mortalityLong-term opioid therapyTime-updated Cox regressionStrong dose-response relationshipUnnatural deathsEquivalent daily doseDose-response relationshipOpioid doseOpioid therapyUninfected patientsOpioid useDaily doseCox regressionMortality outcomesTherapy doseHigh doseMale veteransOverdose fatalitiesOverdose mortalityPLWHMortalityHIVPatientsDoseTrajectories of Self-Reported Opioid Use Among Patients With HIV Engaged in Care: Results From a National Cohort Study.
Edelman EJ, Li Y, Barry D, Brennan Braden J, Crystal S, Kerns RD, Gaither JR, Gordon KS, Manhapra A, Merlin JS, Moore BA, Oldfield BJ, Park LS, Rentsch CT, Skanderson M, Williams EC, Justice AC, Tate JP, Becker WC, Marshall BDL. Trajectories of Self-Reported Opioid Use Among Patients With HIV Engaged in Care: Results From a National Cohort Study. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2020, 84: 26-36. PMID: 32267658, PMCID: PMC7147724, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002310.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedOpioid-Related DisordersUnited StatesConceptsOpioid useOpioid use trajectoriesCohort studyPain interferenceSelf-reported opioid useVeterans Aging Cohort StudyVeterans Health Administration sitesInfrequent useOpioid use frequencyMarijuana useAging Cohort StudyNational cohort studyEvidence-based treatmentsGroup-based trajectory modelsProspective cohortBaseline factorsIllness severityMultivariable analysisBenzodiazepine medicationVA carePsychoactive medicationsPrescription painkillersPsychiatric symptomsHeroin useMultinomial logistic regressionAre we missing opioid-related deaths among people with HIV?
Becker WC, Gordon KS, Edelman EJ, Goulet JL, Kerns RD, Marshall BDL, Fiellin DA, Justice AC, Tate JP. Are we missing opioid-related deaths among people with HIV? Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2020, 212: 108003. PMID: 32417360, PMCID: PMC9580216, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyOpioid useOverdose deathsLife-limiting conditionsUnnatural deathsGreater oddsAging Cohort StudyVACS IndexOpioid exposureCohort studyHIV infectionHIV statusRisk factorsOdds ratioDeath filesIndex causeHIVDisease severityDeathDecedentsIllicit useDifferential misclassificationOddsCauseOpioids
2018
A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV
Merlin JS, Westfall AO, Long D, Davies S, Saag M, Demonte W, Young S, Kerns RD, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Turan JM, Kilgore M, Clay OJ, Starrels J, Pekmezi D, Johnson MO. A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2018, 22: 2733-2742. PMID: 29340913, PMCID: PMC6047927, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2028-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painPilot trialBrief Pain Inventory (BPI) total scorePain self-management interventionMedian session attendanceUsual care comparisonRandomized pilot trialSelf-management interventionsNovel behavioral interventionModerate painPain severityPreliminary efficacyIntervention groupSession attendanceCare comparisonsEligibility criteriaControl groupPainInterference ScaleBehavioral interventionsTrialsHIVPreliminary evidenceFull-scale trialEfficacy
2017
Cost-effectiveness of a chronic pain intervention for people living with HIV (PLWH)
Merlin JS, Westfall AO, Johnson MO, Kerns RD, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Turan JM, Clay OJ, Starrels JL, Kilgore M. Cost-effectiveness of a chronic pain intervention for people living with HIV (PLWH). Journal Of Medical Economics 2017, 21: 122-126. PMID: 28880698, PMCID: PMC6028014, DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2017.1377719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIncremental cost-effectiveness ratioCost/QALYChronic painPilot trialPreliminary efficacyPain self-management interventionChronic pain interventionsModerate chronic painHIV clinical settingsSelf-management interventionsCost-effectiveness ratioStandard gamble methodCostly comorbiditiesSTOMP interventionUsual carePain interventionsMean ageInclusion criteriaClinic perspectivePainClinical settingPilot studyTrialsPLWHHIV
2016
Using Patient Perspectives to Inform the Development of a Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain in Patients with HIV: A Qualitative Study
Merlin JS, Young SR, Johnson MO, Saag M, Demonte W, Modi R, Shurbaji S, Anderson WA, Kerns R, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Davies S, Turan JM. Using Patient Perspectives to Inform the Development of a Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain in Patients with HIV: A Qualitative Study. Pain Medicine 2016, 18: 879-888. PMID: 27425186, PMCID: PMC6279265, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnw150.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painPatient preferencesBehavioral interventionsNonpharmacologic treatmentsHIV statusPatient's perspectivePainHIVElicit participants' preferencesIntervention contentThematic analysis approachIntervention developmentPsychosocial vulnerabilityInterventionGroup participantsPatientsGroup sessionsTarget populationFocus groupsQualitative studyPeer leadershipParticipants' preferencesIndividualsEmergent themesDeliveryThe Association Between Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Long-Term Opioid Therapy and All-Cause Mortality
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Kerns RD, Rimland D, Skanderson M, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. The Association Between Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Long-Term Opioid Therapy and All-Cause Mortality. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2016, 31: 492-501. PMID: 26847447, PMCID: PMC4835362, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-015-3571-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersGuideline-concordant careCause mortalityOpioid therapyLong-term opioid therapyUntreated substance use disordersCurrent substance use disorderTerm opioid therapyTime-updated covariatesPrimary care visitsImportant clinical outcomesMulti-modal treatmentUrine drug testingUninfected patientsUntreated patientsCare visitsChronic painClinical outcomesCox regressionDecreased riskHigh comorbidityMortality burdenRehabilitative therapySUD treatmentHigh risk
2015
Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV
Becker WC, Gordon K, Jennifer Edelman E, Kerns RD, Crystal S, Dziura JD, Fiellin LE, Gordon AJ, Goulet JL, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2015, 20: 679-686. PMID: 26384973, PMCID: PMC5006945, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1197-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term Prescription of Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines and Mortality Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Weisberg DF, Gordon KS, Barry DT, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gaither J, Gordon AJ, Goulet J, Kerns RD, Moore BA, Tate J, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Long-term Prescription of Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines and Mortality Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2015, 69: 223-233. PMID: 26009831, PMCID: PMC4446730, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000591.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioidsMorphine equivalent daily doseOpioid receiptRisk of deathLong-term prescriptionUninfected patientsOpioid dosesAntiretroviral therapyHazard ratioDaily dosePropensity scoreHigher opioid dosesCause mortalityHIV statusAvailable patientsMortality riskOpioidsHIVPatientsProspective analysisMortalityBenzodiazepinesDosesDeathRiskPain Self-Management in HIV-Infected Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study
Merlin JS, Walcott M, Kerns R, Bair MJ, Burgio KL, Turan JM. Pain Self-Management in HIV-Infected Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study. Pain Medicine 2015, 16: 706-714. PMID: 25645646, PMCID: PMC4390451, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12701.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultChronic PainFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain ManagementQualitative ResearchSelf CareConceptsSelf-management strategiesChronic painPain self-management strategiesPain Self-ManagementNegative health consequencesPain managementPain outcomesPhysical activityPainHIVHealth consequencesBehavioral interventionsSubstance useSelf-ManagementSocial supportInterventionQualitative studyThematic analysisIndividualsEssential first stepSpiritual strategies
2014
Guideline-Concordant Management of Opioid Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Uninfected Veterans
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Kerns RD, Rimland D, Skanderson M, Weisberg DF, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Guideline-Concordant Management of Opioid Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Uninfected Veterans. Journal Of Pain 2014, 15: 1130-1140. PMID: 25152300, PMCID: PMC4253900, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.08.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCurrent substance use disorderGuideline-concordant careOpioid therapyUrine drug testsHuman immunodeficiency virusSubstance use disordersUninfected patientsImmunodeficiency virusUse disordersPatient/provider characteristicsPrimary care provider visitsVeterans Affairs/DepartmentGuideline-concordant managementDrug testsCare concordantGuideline concordanceUninfected veteransProvider visitsPatient characteristicsPatient groupPrimary careClinical guidelinesPain medicineProvider characteristicsPatients
2013
Agreement Between Electronic Medical Record-based and Self-administered Pain Numeric Rating Scale
Goulet JL, Brandt C, Crystal S, Fiellin DA, Gibert C, Gordon AJ, Kerns RD, Maisto S, Justice AC. Agreement Between Electronic Medical Record-based and Self-administered Pain Numeric Rating Scale. Medical Care 2013, 51: 245-250. PMID: 23222528, PMCID: PMC3572341, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0b013e318277f1ad.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNumeric rating scaleElectronic medical recordsPain screeningMedical recordsPain numeric rating scaleRating ScaleModerate-severe painVeterans Affairs medical facilitiesPatients' electronic medical recordsMajor depressive disorderEMR dataQuality of careUnderestimation of painSample of veteransPosttraumatic stress disorderHealth care systemClinical characteristicsPatient characteristicsNRS scoresPain careDepressive disorderSurvey scoresPainLevel of agreementStress disorder
2012
Receipt of Opioid Analgesics by HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Becker WC, Goulet JL, Skanderson M, Gaither JR, Brennan Braden J, Gordon AJ, Kerns RD, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Receipt of Opioid Analgesics by HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2012, 28: 82-90. PMID: 22895747, PMCID: PMC3539026, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-012-2189-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioidsHigh-dose opioidsUninfected patientsOpioid receiptHIV statusPain diagnosisHIV infectionVeterans Aging Cohort StudyVeterans Health Administration (VHA) careDaily morphine equivalent doseAcute pain diagnosisDays of opioidsMorphine equivalent doseAging Cohort StudyDesignCross-sectional analysisChronic pain diagnosesICD-9 codesVulnerable patient populationAverage daily doseMorphine equivalentsOpioid prescriptionsCohort studyDaily doseOpioid analgesicsPain management
2011
Nonmedical use of prescription opioids and pain in veterans with and without HIV
Barry DT, Goulet JL, Kerns RK, Becker WC, Gordon AJ, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Nonmedical use of prescription opioids and pain in veterans with and without HIV. Pain 2011, 152: 1133-1138. PMID: 21354703, PMCID: PMC3086805, DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.01.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAnalgesics, OpioidChi-Square DistributionCohort StudiesFemaleHealth SurveysHIV InfectionsHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedOdds RatioOpioid-Related DisordersPainPain MeasurementPrescriptionsPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesRetrospective StudiesSelf ReportSurveys and QuestionnairesVeterans HealthYoung AdultConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusPrescription opioidsComponent summaryHIV statusPain interferenceUse disordersForm Health Survey Mental Component SummarySF-12 Physical Component SummaryVeterans Aging Cohort StudyNonmedical usePharmacy record dataAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scoresAging Cohort StudyPhysical component summaryMental component summaryOpioid use disorderMedian participant ageDrug use disordersLegitimate medical reasonsPast-month cigarette useChi-squared testU.S. military veteransHepatitis COpioid prescriptionsCohort study