Demographic characteristics, medical and psychiatric history of patients with prescription opioid use disorder

Abstract

Introduction

Over the past two decades the prescription of opioid analgesics has increased with a subsequent escalating in prescription opioid misuse. It is estimated that 4.5 million (2.5%) of the United States of America population abuse of pain relievers; opioids are among the most commonly.

In Chile there are few reports about the prevalence of opioid use disorder.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to describe the demographic characteristics, medical and psychiatric comorbidity of patients that suffer from opioid addiction.

Patients and methods

This transversal study examined data of 7 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD; DSM-5) that consulted at the addiction unit of “Red de Salud, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile”, between November 2013 and October 2015. Data included: demographics, medical and psychiatric history, laboratory and imaging tests.

Results

Of all the patients, 57% were men, 25 to 67 years of age, 43% between 35-40 years; 57% were married; 57% had completed studies at university. 43% had also alcohol use disorder, 28% marijuana, 28% cocaine and 28% benzodiazepines than in most cases began before OUD. In addition; 57% had medical comorbidity among which stand out obesity (17%), osteoarthritis (17%) and chronic low back pain (17%). Eighty-three percent require hospitalization. Twenty-eight percent had abnormal liver tests and one patient had positive hepatitis B core antibody. Opioids used were: morphine(14%), codeine (43%), tramadol (42%).

Conclusion

These results emphasize on the misuse of prescription opioids analgesics, the complexity of patients with OUD and the prevalence of other substance use disorder that precedes and accompany OUD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.