Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus may be more likely to receive long-term opioid therapy compared with those in the general population, according to a study published by Figueroa-Parra et al in The Journal of Rheumatology. Investigators enrolled 465 patients with lupus and 465 without the disease and analyzed data on their opioid use, demographics, lupus manifestations, and comorbidities. The investigators found that 13% and 11% of the patients with lupus vs 3% and 1% of those in the control group were receiving opioid therapy and long-term opioid therapy lasting more than 90 days, respectively. Further, long-term opioid therapy was found to be associated with acute pericarditis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.78–8.66), fibromyalgia (OR = 7.78, 95% CI = 3.89–15.55), chronic low back pain (OR = 4.00, 95% CI = 2.13–7.51), and mood disorders (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.47–5.16)—but not with chronic kidney disease, arthritis, or the Area Deprivation Index. The investigators concluded that physicians should be aware of the complications associated with long-term opioid therapy and properly weigh the benefits and harms prior to making a decision to prescribe the agents.