Erin Kelty1,2, Gary Hulse1. 1. School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australian, Australia. 2. School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Western Australian, Australia.
Abstract
Aims: To compare morbidity and mortality in opioid dependence patients following the commencement of treatment with the general population. Methods: Morbidity and mortality in all patients treated with methadone, buprenorphine or implant naltrexone for opioid dependence for the first time between 2001 and 2010 in Western Australia was compared to a cohort of age and gender matched controls using state health records. Results: Compared to community controls rates of all-cause mortality, hospital admissions and Emergency Department attendances are significantly elevated in opioid dependent persons following the commencement of their first treatment. Not surprisingly, rates of opioid and non-opioid drug poisoning, and intentional self-harm/suicide mortality and hospital admissions were significantly elevated in opioid dependent patients compared with non-dependent controls. However, significant increases in mortality and hospital admissions for conditions which are not generally associated with opioid use were also identified including cardiovascular, respiratory and traffic accidents. Life-time prevalence of both HBV and HCV were significantly elevated in opioid dependent patients compared with non-dependent patients. Conclusions: Even after the commencement of treatment, opioid dependent patients are at a high risk of morbidity and mortality compared with non-dependent age and gender matched controls.
Aims: To compare morbidity and mortality in opioid dependencepatients following the commencement of treatment with the general population. Methods: Morbidity and mortality in all patients treated with methadone, buprenorphine or implant naltrexone for opioid dependence for the first time between 2001 and 2010 in Western Australia was compared to a cohort of age and gender matched controls using state health records. Results: Compared to community controls rates of all-cause mortality, hospital admissions and Emergency Department attendances are significantly elevated in opioid dependent persons following the commencement of their first treatment. Not surprisingly, rates of opioid and non-opioid drug poisoning, and intentional self-harm/suicide mortality and hospital admissions were significantly elevated in opioid dependent patients compared with non-dependent controls. However, significant increases in mortality and hospital admissions for conditions which are not generally associated with opioid use were also identified including cardiovascular, respiratory and traffic accidents. Life-time prevalence of both HBV and HCV were significantly elevated in opioid dependent patients compared with non-dependent patients. Conclusions: Even after the commencement of treatment, opioid dependent patients are at a high risk of morbidity and mortality compared with non-dependent age and gender matched controls.
Authors: Jørn Henrik Vold; Svetlana Skurtveit; Christer Aas; Kjell Arne Johansson; Lars Thore Fadnes Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2020-07-20 Impact factor: 2.655