Healthcare Utilization and Opioid Prescribing in SARD Patients

This chapter analyzes the visit data of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (SARDs) versus those without, revealing significant differences in healthcare utilization, demographics, and comorbidity rates. It highlights a notable disparity in opioid prescribing practices, with a higher percentage of SARD patients receiving prescriptions compared to their non-SARD counterparts. The chapter also addresses the limitations of current data sets and emphasizes the need for future research on the long-term effects of opioid use among SARD patients.