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Brief report: Opioid withdrawal in patients with cirrhosis: A retrospective cross-sectional United States analysis

Christopher Behrend MD

Christopher Behrend MD

Department of Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

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Alexandra D. Ferreira MD

Alexandra D. Ferreira MD

Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities Campus, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

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Spencer R. Goble MD

Corresponding Author

Spencer R. Goble MD

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence Spencer R. Goble, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Mayo Memorial Bldg, MMC 250, 420 Delaware St S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 08 July 2025

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Patients with cirrhosis face poor outcomes for numerous acute pathologies, but opioid withdrawal outcomes in this population are unknown.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 306,455 hospitalizations for opioid withdrawal within the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2022.

Results

Patients with cirrhosis (n = 2415) had increased rates of mechanical ventilation (aOR = 2.34, p = .004), death (aOR = 4.24, p = .022) and cost (mean $7845 vs. $4409, p < .001).

Conclusion and Scientific Significance

This is the first large, generalizable study of opioid withdrawal in cirrhosis, showing worse outcomes and underscoring the need for careful monitoring in this population.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.

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