AIM: To describe opiate substitution treatment (OST) cycles in a five year followed-up cohort of patients initiating OST during 5 years in ambulatory practice. METHODS: Data were extracted from Health Insurance System Database from January 1(st) 2005 to December 31(st) 2010 for "Haute Garonne" (South Western France area, 1 million inhabitants). Patients starting OST were included. Drop-outs were identified throughout the follow-up. RESULTS: Five hundred patients were included, 72% of men, median age of 33 years. Median number of OST cycles was 2 [1; 3] on 5 years. Median duration of first OST cycle was 214 [77; 689] days. Median delay between first and second OST cycle was 80 [23; 241] days. Retention rate at one year was 38.2%. CONCLUSION: More than 50% of patients had at least 2 cycles of OST.
AIM: To describe opiate substitution treatment (OST) cycles in a five year followed-up cohort of patients initiating OST during 5 years in ambulatory practice. METHODS: Data were extracted from Health Insurance System Database from January 1(st) 2005 to December 31(st) 2010 for "Haute Garonne" (South Western France area, 1 million inhabitants). Patients starting OST were included. Drop-outs were identified throughout the follow-up. RESULTS: Five hundred patients were included, 72% of men, median age of 33 years. Median number of OST cycles was 2 [1; 3] on 5 years. Median duration of first OST cycle was 214 [77; 689] days. Median delay between first and second OST cycle was 80 [23; 241] days. Retention rate at one year was 38.2%. CONCLUSION: More than 50% of patients had at least 2 cycles of OST.