Madeline C Frost1, Julie E Richards2, John R Blosnich3, Eric J Hawkins4, Judith I Tsui5, E Jennifer Edelman6, Emily C Williams7. 1. Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: madeline.frost@va.gov. 2. Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. Electronic address: julie.e.richards@kp.org. 3. Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669W 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA. Electronic address: blosnich@usc.edu. 4. Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: eric.hawkins@va.gov. 5. Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: tsuij@uw.edu. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. Electronic address: eva.edelman@yale.edu. 7. Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: emily.williams3@va.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), medications for OUD (MOUD) may lower suicide risk. Therefore, it is important that individuals with OUD and suicidality receive MOUD. This study examined associations between clinically recognized suicidality and subsequent initiation or continuation of MOUD among patients with OUD in the national Veterans Health Administration (VA). METHODS: Electronic health record data were extracted for outpatients with OUD who received VA care 10/1/2016-7/31/2017. Suicidality was measured using diagnostic codes for suicidal ideation/attempt and patient record flags. Analyses were conducted separately among patients without prior-year MOUD receipt to examine MOUD initiation, and with prior-year MOUD receipt to examine MOUD continuation. Poisson regression models estimated likelihood of MOUD receipt in the following year for patients with prior-year suicidality relative to those without. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among 20,085 patients with no prior-year MOUD, 12% had suicidality and 12% received MOUD in the following year. Suicidality was positively associated with MOUD initiation (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.28). Among 10,162 patients with prior-year MOUD, 9% had suicidality and 84% received MOUD in the following year. Suicidality was negatively associated with MOUD continuation (aIRR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Among VA patients with OUD, clinically recognized suicidality may increase likelihood of MOUD initiation but decrease likelihood of continuation. Efforts to increase initiation overall and to support retention for patients with suicidality are needed. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND: Among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), medications for OUD (MOUD) may lower suicide risk. Therefore, it is important that individuals with OUD and suicidality receive MOUD. This study examined associations between clinically recognized suicidality and subsequent initiation or continuation of MOUD among patients with OUD in the national Veterans Health Administration (VA). METHODS: Electronic health record data were extracted for outpatients with OUD who received VA care 10/1/2016-7/31/2017. Suicidality was measured using diagnostic codes for suicidal ideation/attempt and patient record flags. Analyses were conducted separately among patients without prior-year MOUD receipt to examine MOUD initiation, and with prior-year MOUD receipt to examine MOUD continuation. Poisson regression models estimated likelihood of MOUD receipt in the following year for patients with prior-year suicidality relative to those without. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among 20,085 patients with no prior-year MOUD, 12% had suicidality and 12% received MOUD in the following year. Suicidality was positively associated with MOUD initiation (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.28). Among 10,162 patients with prior-year MOUD, 9% had suicidality and 84% received MOUD in the following year. Suicidality was negatively associated with MOUD continuation (aIRR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Among VA patients with OUD, clinically recognized suicidality may increase likelihood of MOUD initiation but decrease likelihood of continuation. Efforts to increase initiation overall and to support retention for patients with suicidality are needed. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Entities:
Keywords:
Buprenorphine; Methadone; Opioid use disorder; Suicidality; Suicide; Veterans
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