Ann Intern Med

Gabapentinoids linked to increased risk for severe COPD exacerbation

January 19, 2024

In this population-based cohort study, investigators found that in patients with COPD, gabapentinoid use was associated with increased risk of severe exacerbation. These findings support the warnings from regulatory agencies and highlight the importance of considering the potential risk when prescribing gabapentin and pregabalin to patients with COPD.

• To assess whether gabapentinoid use is associated with severe exacerbation in COPD, researchers culled health insurance databases from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec in Canada to create a base cohort of patients with COPD.
• Primary outcome was severe COPD exacerbation requiring hospitalization. Hazard ratios (HRs) associated with gabapentinoid use were estimated in sub-cohorts according to gabapentinoid indication and in the overall cohort.
• The cohort included 356 gabapentinoid users with epilepsy, 9,411 with neuropathic pain, and 3,737 with other chronic pain, matched 1:1 to nonusers.
• Compared with nonuse overall, gabapentinoid use was associated with increased risk of severe COPD exacerbation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.39) and across the indications of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain (HRs, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.08 to 2.30], 1.35 [CI, 1.24 to 1.48], and 1.49 [CI, 1.27 to 1.73], respectively).

Source:

Rahman AA, et al. (2024, January 16). Ann Intern Med. Gabapentinoids and Risk for Severe Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38224592/