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Comparative Study
. 2020 Feb 5;3(2):e1920622.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20622.

Comparative Effectiveness of Different Treatment Pathways for Opioid Use Disorder

Sarah E Wakeman  1   2 , Marc R Larochelle  3   4 , Omid Ameli  5 , Christine E Chaisson  5 , Jeffrey Thomas McPheeters  6 , William H Crown  7 , Francisca Azocar  8 , Darshak M Sanghavi  9
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparative Effectiveness of Different Treatment Pathways for Opioid Use Disorder

Sarah E Wakeman et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Erratum in

  • Error in Captions of Figures 1 and 2.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] JAMA Netw Open. 2024 May 1;7(5):e2419798. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19798. JAMA Netw Open. 2024. PMID: 38819831 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Importance: Although clinical trials demonstrate the superior effectiveness of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) compared with nonpharmacologic treatment, national data on the comparative effectiveness of real-world treatment pathways are lacking.

Objective: To examine associations between opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment pathways and overdose and opioid-related acute care use as proxies for OUD recurrence.

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective comparative effectiveness research study assessed deidentified claims from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse from individuals aged 16 years or older with OUD and commercial or Medicare Advantage coverage. Opioid use disorder was identified based on 1 or more inpatient or 2 or more outpatient claims for OUD diagnosis codes within 3 months of each other; 1 or more claims for OUD plus diagnosis codes for opioid-related overdose, injection-related infection, or inpatient detoxification or residential services; or MOUD claims between January 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. Data analysis was performed from April 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

Exposures: One of 6 mutually exclusive treatment pathways, including (1) no treatment, (2) inpatient detoxification or residential services, (3) intensive behavioral health, (4) buprenorphine or methadone, (5) naltrexone, and (6) nonintensive behavioral health.

Main outcomes and measures: Opioid-related overdose or serious acute care use during 3 and 12 months after initial treatment.

Results: A total of 40 885 individuals with OUD (mean [SD] age, 47.73 [17.25] years; 22 172 [54.2%] male; 30 332 [74.2%] white) were identified. For OUD treatment, 24 258 (59.3%) received nonintensive behavioral health, 6455 (15.8%) received inpatient detoxification or residential services, 5123 (12.5%) received MOUD treatment with buprenorphine or methadone, 1970 (4.8%) received intensive behavioral health, and 963 (2.4%) received MOUD treatment with naltrexone. During 3-month follow-up, 707 participants (1.7%) experienced an overdose, and 773 (1.9%) had serious opioid-related acute care use. Only treatment with buprenorphine or methadone was associated with a reduced risk of overdose during 3-month (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.24; 95% CI, 0.14-0.41) and 12-month (AHR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.31-0.55) follow-up. Treatment with buprenorphine or methadone was also associated with reduction in serious opioid-related acute care use during 3-month (AHR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.47-0.99) and 12-month (AHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.95) follow-up.

Conclusions and relevance: Treatment with buprenorphine or methadone was associated with reductions in overdose and serious opioid-related acute care use compared with other treatments. Strategies to address the underuse of MOUD are needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Wakeman reported receiving personal fees from OptumLabs during the conduct of the study. Dr Ameli reported receiving grants from OptumLabs during the conduct of the study. Ms Chaisson, Mr McPheeters, and Dr Azocar reported receiving salary support from OptumLabs during the conduct of the study. Dr Azocar also reported receiving salary support from United Health Group outside the submitted work. Dr Sanghavi reported being an employee of United Health Group. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Probability of Opioid Overdose and Acute Care Use During the 3-Month Follow-up Period
BH indicates behavioral health; CE, continuous enrollment; BH IOP, intensive behavioral health (intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization); IP detox/RTC, inpatient detoxification or residential services; and MOUD, medication for opioid use disorder.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Probability of Opioid Overdose and Acute Care Use During the 12-Month Follow-up Period
CE indicates continuous enrollment; MOUD, medication for opioid use disorder.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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