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Singh R, Melvin P, Wachman EM, Rothstein R, Schiff DM, Murzycki J, VanVleet M, Gupta M, Davis JM. Short term outcomes of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a comparison of two approaches. J Perinatol 2024; 44:1137-1145. [PMID: 38565652 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01953-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes in opioid exposed neonates (OENs) assessed by the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) tool compared to the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS). METHODS Retrospective analysis of a statewide database of OENs from 2017 to 2020 with birthing hospitals classified based on the assessment tool used. Four main outcomes were examined using multivariable and Poisson logistic regression models. RESULTS Of 2375 OENs, 42.1% received pharmacotherapy (PT) with a consistent decrease in PT, length of treatment (LOT), and length of stay (LOS) over the study period. There was no change in use of mother's own milk (MoM). While outcomes were significantly associated with several specific variables, there were no differences in outcomes between assessment methods. CONCLUSION While there was a significant decrease over time in PT, LOT, and LOS, improvements were independent of the assessment tool used and likely related to the increased use of non-pharmacologic care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Singh
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Patrice Melvin
- Center for Applied Pediatric Quality Analytics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisha M Wachman
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Rothstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Children's Hospital, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Davida M Schiff
- Divisions of Newborn Medicine and General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Murzycki
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcia VanVleet
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, MA, USA
| | - Munish Gupta
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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Uebel H, Dronavalli M, Lawler K, Lee E, Bajuk B, Burns L, Page A, Dickson M, Green C, Dicair L, Eastwood J, Oei JL. School performance in children with prenatal drug exposure and out-of-home care in NSW, Australia: a retrospective population-based cohort study. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2024; 8:500-509. [PMID: 38897715 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(24)00076-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal drug exposure (PDE) is a global public health problem that is strongly associated with the need for child protection services, including placement into out-of-home care (OOHC). We aimed to assess school outcomes for children with PDE (both with and without neonatal abstinence syndrome [NAS]) and the association of school performance with OOHC. METHODS Using linked population health, OOHC, and school test data, we compared results on the Australian standardised curriculum-based test, the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), for children with PDE who were born in New South Wales (NSW) between 2001 and 2020 and had completed at least one NAPLAN test between Jan 1, 2008, and June 30, 2021, administered in Year 3 (age 8-9 years), Year 5 (age 10-11 years), Year 7 (age 12-13 years), or Year 9 (age 14-15 years). Linked datasets included NSW Perinatal Data Collection (birth data), NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection (hospital diagnoses), NSW Education Standards Authority (NAPLAN scores), NSW Family and Community Services Dataset-KiDS Data Collection (OOHC information), NSW Mental Health Ambulatory Data Collection, and NSW Registry for Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The primary outcome was scoring above or below the National Minimum Standard (NMS) in any test domain (mathematics, language, writing, and spelling) at each year level, comparing the relative risk of scoring below NMS between children with and without PDE (and with or without NAS within the PDE group), and with and without OOHC contact. The association between OOHC on the likelihood of scoring above NMS was also investigated for PDE and non-PDE cohorts. FINDINGS The PDE cohort included 3836 children, and the non-PDE cohort included 897 487 children. Within the PDE cohort, 3192 children had a NAS diagnosis and 644 children had no NAS diagnosis. 1755 (45·8%) children with PDE required OOHC compared with 12 880 (1·4%) of 897 487 children without PDE. Children with PDE were more likely than children without PDE to score below NMS in any domain from Year 3 (risk ratio 2·72 [95% CI 2·58-2·76]) to Year 9 (2·36 [2·22-2·50]). Performance was similar regardless of a NAS diagnosis (Year 3: 0·96 [0·84-1·10]; Year 9: 0·98 [0·84-1·15]). The likelihood of scoring above NMS in Year 9 was reduced for children with PDE and without NAS (0·57 [0·45-0·73]) and NAS (0·58 [0·52-0·64]) compared with those without PDE, and also for children who received OOHC (0·60 [0·57-0·64]) compared with those without OOHC, when adjusted for confounders. Among children with PDE, those receiving OOHC had a similar likelihood of scoring above NMS compared with children who did not receive OOHC, from Year 3 (1·01 [0·92-1·11]) to Year 9 (0·90 [0·73-1·10]), when adjusted for confounding factors. By contrast, among children without PDE, those receiving OOHC were less likely to score above NMS than those who did not receive OOHC, from Year 3 (0·78 [0·76-0·80]) to Year 9 (0·58 [0·54-0·61]). INTERPRETATION Compared with children without PDE, school performance in children with PDE-regardless of whether they were diagnosed with NAS-is poor, and the gap widens with age. The risk of poor performance persists regardless of OOHC status. This finding underscores the need for all children with PDE to receive long-term, culturally sensitive, and proactive support to improve life success. FUNDING SPHERE Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, Australian Red Cross, Alpha Maxx Healthcare, Centre for Research Excellence for Integrated Health and Social Care, National Health and Medical Research Council, and University of Sydney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Uebel
- School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Mithilesh Dronavalli
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Kate Lawler
- School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Evelyn Lee
- Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia; Centre for Economic Impacts of Genomic Medicine, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Barbara Bajuk
- Critical Care Program, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lucinda Burns
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew Page
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Dickson
- The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Lauren Dicair
- The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - John Eastwood
- National Public Health Service, Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia; Department of Preventative and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Sydney Institute for Women Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia; Early Years Research Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ju Lee Oei
- School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia; Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia; Drug and Alcohol Services, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
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3
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Wiese AD, Phillippi JC, Muhar A, Polic A, Liu G, Loch SF, Ong HH, Su WC, Leech AA, Reese T, Wei WQ, Patrick SW. Performance of Phenotype Algorithms for the Identification of Opioid-Exposed Infants. Hosp Pediatr 2024; 14:438-447. [PMID: 38804051 PMCID: PMC11137624 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Observational studies examining outcomes among opioid-exposed infants are limited by phenotype algorithms that may under identify opioid-exposed infants without neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). We developed and validated the performance of different phenotype algorithms to identify opioid-exposed infants using electronic health record data. METHODS We developed phenotype algorithms for the identification of opioid-exposed infants among a population of birthing person-infant dyads from an academic health care system (2010-2022). We derived phenotype algorithms from combinations of 6 unique indicators of in utero opioid exposure, including those from the infant record (NOWS or opioid-exposure diagnosis, positive toxicology) and birthing person record (opioid use disorder diagnosis, opioid drug exposure record, opioid listed on medication reconciliation, positive toxicology). We determined the positive predictive value (PPV) and 95% confidence interval for each phenotype algorithm using medical record review as the gold standard. RESULTS Among 41 047 dyads meeting exclusion criteria, we identified 1558 infants (3.80%) with evidence of at least 1 indicator for opioid exposure and 32 (0.08%) meeting all 6 indicators of the phenotype algorithm. Among the sample of dyads randomly selected for review (n = 600), the PPV for the phenotype requiring only a single indicator was 95.4% (confidence interval: 93.3-96.8) with varying PPVs for the other phenotype algorithms derived from a combination of infant and birthing person indicators (PPV range: 95.4-100.0). CONCLUSIONS Opioid-exposed infants can be accurately identified using electronic health record data. Our publicly available phenotype algorithms can be used to conduct research examining outcomes among opioid-exposed infants with and without NOWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Wiese
- Departments of Health Policy
- Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy
| | - Julia C. Phillippi
- Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy
- School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | | | - Ge Liu
- Center for Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Henry H. Ong
- Center for Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Wu-Chen Su
- Center for Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Ashley A. Leech
- Departments of Health Policy
- Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy
| | | | - Wei-Qi Wei
- Center for Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Stephen W. Patrick
- Departments of Health Policy
- Pediatrics
- Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy
- Mildred Stahlman Division of Neonatology
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Jilani SM, Davis JM, Goldstein D, Grossman M, Jansson LM, Terplan M, Jones HE. Clinically defining the opioid-exposed birthing person and infant as a dyad to support bedside care, surveillance, and research. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1349102. [PMID: 38774300 PMCID: PMC11106404 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1349102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction An increased incidence of maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has prompted recommendations supporting a dyadic approach to care for birthing persons and their infants. However, there are no consensus guidelines outlining how the dyad is clinically defined. Methods To examine how the opioid-exposed birthing person-infant dyad has been defined for purposes of data collection and research, a literature review applying the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was conducted. Results The search yielded 320 abstracts, with 110 articles identified as having a dyadic focus. While no articles included a specific definition for the dyad, 33 (30%) contained a descriptive reference to the birthing person-infant dyad. Thematic analysis revealed eight recurring elements characteristic of the dyad: (1) engagement, (2) communication, (3) bonding, (4) attachment, (5) mutual responsiveness, (6) reciprocity, (7) synchrony, and (8) attunement. Integrating these elements revealed the interactional relationship between the opioid-exposed birthing person and infant as the foundational principle that defines the dyad. Discussion This definition shifts the focus of the opioid-exposed dyad from two individual patient populations to an interactional relationship that has broad applicability for clinical use, public health data collection, and research considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahla M. Jilani
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Davis
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Goldstein
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Matthew Grossman
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Lauren M. Jansson
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Addiction and Pregnancy, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mishka Terplan
- Friends Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hendrée E. Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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5
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Campbell AG, Zhang P, Rosenman MB, Scott E, Wiehe SE. Trends in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome and Opioid Exposure Diagnoses Among Infants With Private Health Insurance, 2016-2021: Introduction of the P04.14 ICD-10-CM Code. Public Health Rep 2024; 139:88-93. [PMID: 37119181 PMCID: PMC10905765 DOI: 10.1177/00333549231162375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The opioid epidemic has led to a surge in diagnoses of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Many states track the incidence of NOWS by using the P96.1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code for "neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction." In October 2018, an ICD-10-CM code for neonatal opioid exposure (P04.14) was introduced. This code can be used when an infant is exposed to opioids in utero but does not have clinically significant withdrawal symptoms. We analyzed the effect of the P04.14 code on the incidence rate of NOWS (P96.1) and "other" neonatal drug exposure diagnoses (P04.49). METHODS We used private health insurance data collected for infants in the United States from the first quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2021 to describe incidence rates for each code over time and examine absolute and percentage changes before and after the introduction of code P04.14. RESULTS The exclusive use of code P96.1 declined from an incidence rate per 1000 births of 1.08 in 2016-2018 to 0.70 in 2019-2021, a -35.7% (95% CI, -47.6% to -23.8%) reduction. Use of code P04.49 only declined from an incidence rate of 2.34 in 2016-2018 to 1.64 in 2019-2021, a -30.0% (95% CI, -36.4% to -23.7%) reduction. Use of multiple codes during the course of treatment increased from an average incidence per 1000 births of 0.56 in 2016-2018 to 0.79 in 2019-2021, a 45.5% (95% CI, 24.8%-66.1%) increase. CONCLUSION The introduction of ICD-10-CM code P04.14 altered the use of other neonatal opioid exposure codes. The use of multiple codes increased, indicating that some ambiguity may exist about which ICD-10-CM code is most appropriate for a given set of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela G. Campbell
- Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Pengyue Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Marc B. Rosenman
- Children’s Health Services Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emily Scott
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sarah E. Wiehe
- Children’s Health Services Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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6
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Baldo BA. Neonatal opioid toxicity: opioid withdrawal (abstinence) syndrome with emphasis on pharmacogenomics and respiratory depression. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:2575-2585. [PMID: 37537419 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03563-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing use of opioids in pregnant women has led to an alarming rise in the number of cases of neonates with drug-induced withdrawal symptoms known as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). NOWS is a toxic heterogeneous condition with many neurologic, autonomic, and gastrointestinal symptoms including poor feeding, irritability, tachycardia, hypertension, respiratory defects, tremors, hyperthermia, and weight loss. Paradoxically, for the management of NOWS, low doses of morphine, methadone, or buprenorphine are administered. NOWS is a polygenic disorder supported by studies of genomic variation in opioid-related genes. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP2B6 are associated with variations in NOWS infant responses to methadone and SNPs in the OPRM1, ABCB1, and COMT genes are associated with need for treatment and length of hospital stay. Epigenetic gene changes showing higher methylation levels in infants and mothers have been associated with more pharmacologic treatment in the case of newborns, and for mothers, longer infant hospital stays. Respiratory disturbances associated with NOWS are not well characterized. Little is known about the effects of opioids on developing neonatal respiratory control and respiratory distress (RD), a potential problem for survival of the neonate. In a rat model to test the effect of maternal opioids on the developing respiratory network and neonatal breathing, maternal-derived methadone increased apneas and lessened RD in neonates at postnatal (P) days P0 and P1. From P3, breathing normalized with age suggesting reorganization of respiratory rhythm-generating circuits at a time when the preBötC becomes the dominant inspiratory rhythm generator. In medullary slices containing the preBötC, maternal opioid treatment plus exposure to exogenous opioids showed respiratory activity was maintained in younger but not older neonates. Thus, maternal opioids blunt centrally controlled respiratory frequency responses to exogenous opioids in an age-dependent manner. In the absence of maternal opioid treatment, exogenous opioids abolished burst frequencies at all ages. Prenatal opioid exposure in children stunts growth rate and development while studies of behavior and cognitive ability reveal poor performances. In adults, high rates of attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, substance abuse, and poor performances in intelligence and memory tests have been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Baldo
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia.
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
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7
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Conradt E, Camerota M, Maylott S, Lester BM. Annual Research Review: Prenatal opioid exposure - a two-generation approach to conceptualizing neurodevelopmental outcomes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:566-578. [PMID: 36751734 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use during pregnancy impacts the health and well-being of two generations: the pregnant person and the child. The factors that increase risk for opioid use in the adult, as well as those that perpetuate risk for the caregiver and child, oftentimes replicate across generations and may be more likely to affect child neurodevelopment than the opioid exposure itself. In this article, we review the prenatal opioid exposure literature with the perspective that this is not a singular event but an intergenerational cascade of events. We highlight several mechanisms of transmission across generations: biological factors, including genetics and epigenetics and the gut-brain axis; parent-child mechanisms, such as prepregnancy experience of child maltreatment, quality of parenting, infant behaviors, neonatal opioid withdrawal diagnosis, and broader environmental contributors including poverty, violence exposure, stigma, and Child Protective Services involvement. We conclude by describing ways in which intergenerational transmission can be disrupted by early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marie Camerota
- Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sarah Maylott
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barry M Lester
- Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
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8
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Yen E, Gaddis N, Jantzie L, Davis JM. A review of the genomics of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Front Genet 2023; 14:1140400. [PMID: 36845389 PMCID: PMC9950123 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1140400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of signs of withdrawal occurring after birth following in utero exposure to licit or illicit opioids. Despite significant research and public health efforts, NAS remains challenging to diagnose, predict, and manage due to highly variable expression. Biomarker discovery in the field of NAS is crucial for stratifying risk, allocating resources, monitoring longitudinal outcomes, and identifying novel therapeutics. There is considerable interest in identifying important genetic and epigenetic markers of NAS severity and outcome that can guide medical decision making, research efforts, and public policy. A number of recent studies have suggested that genetic and epigenetic changes are associated with NAS severity, including evidence of neurodevelopmental instability. This review will provide an overview of the role of genetics and epigenetics in short and longer-term NAS outcomes. We will also describe novel research efforts using polygenic risk scores for NAS risk stratification and salivary gene expression to understand neurobehavioral modulation. Finally, emerging research focused on neuroinflammation from prenatal opioid exposure may elucidate novel mechanisms that could lead to development of future novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Yen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth Yen,
| | - Nathan Gaddis
- Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lauren Jantzie
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Boston, MA, United States
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9
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Oei JL, Blythe S, Dicair L, Didden D, Preisz A, Lantos J. What's in a name? The ethical implications and opportunities in diagnosing an infant with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Addiction 2023; 118:4-6. [PMID: 36084928 DOI: 10.1111/add.16022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ju Lee Oei
- Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Stacy Blythe
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | | | - David Didden
- Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health, Charleston, WV, USA
| | - Anne Preisz
- Clinical Ethics, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead and Randwick, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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10
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Brewer SK, Davis JM, Singh R, Welch LC. Establishing evidence-based pharmacologic treatments for neonatal abstinence syndrome: A retrospective case study. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 6:e96. [PMID: 36003213 PMCID: PMC9393572 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of research discoveries into health impact can take many years, creating delays in improving clinical outcomes. One approach to promoting timely translation is to examine successful cases in order to understand facilitators and strategies for overcoming barriers. We examined the development of evidence-based management for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) at one academic medical center, with a primary focus on pharmacologic treatment. Despite a substantial increase in NAS case incidence starting in the early 2000s, significant sociocultural, policy, and regulatory barriers limited collaborative NAS research. Facilitators for translation encompassed: 1) pursuing research of societal interest, 2) building an effective interdisciplinary team, 3) intentionally linking clinical, research, and advocacy efforts, 4) broad stakeholder engagement across clinical, policy, and research arenas, and 5) leveraging local resources. Challenges included lack of commercially available U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved neonatal drug formulations, legal and regulatory barriers related to off-label and illicit use of opioids, recruitment for a treatment associated with drug withdrawal syndromes, misalignment of research design needs with real-world scenarios, and episodic funding. Benefits of successful translation included improvements in clinical care, reduced healthcare costs related to NAS, and enhanced legislative, policy, and research strategies to support broader neonatal investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K. Brewer
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Davis
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Lisa C. Welch
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Virtual Peer Support in Women's Health for Pregnant People and Mothers With Substance Use Disorder. Nurs Womens Health 2022; 26:226-233. [PMID: 35460640 DOI: 10.1016/j.nwh.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual peer support group associated with a women's health unit for mothers and pregnant people with substance use disorder. DESIGN The project was guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health. Pre-/postintervention surveys were used to evaluate outcomes. SETTING Women's health unit in a 325-bed hospital with 900 births a year in the U.S. Midwest and a virtual online meeting format. PARTICIPANTS Thirteen people with substance use disorder. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS Participants were recruited by nurses on the women's health unit and in existing online meetings. Participants attended a 12-week session of facilitated substance use disorder peer support meetings through an online virtual format. Surveys included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; the Alcoholics Anonymous Intention Scale; and pre-/postintervention surveys developed by the authors. Descriptive statistics and narrative description of qualitative data were used. RESULTS The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale scores were reduced, on average, by 25%, indicating that participants showed improvement in these conditions. Responses to open-ended questions showed that participants found the meetings helpful for developing coping mechanisms. The virtual space was seen as a comfortable, safe space where participants were able to develop community. CONCLUSION Substance use disorder treatment continues to challenge health care providers across the United States. Peer support meetings have been effective in the treatment of people with substance use disorder. Nursing has the holistic historical precedence of creating effectual education and support programs. This program evaluation exemplifies that women's health units are an appropriate location where nurses can integrate this established evidence-based treatment modality.
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Jilani SM, Jones HE, Grossman M, Jansson LM, Terplan M, Faherty LJ, Khodyakov D, Patrick SW, Davis JM. Standardizing the Clinical Definition of Opioid Withdrawal in the Neonate. J Pediatr 2022; 243:33-39.e1. [PMID: 34942181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To standardize the clinical definition of opioid withdrawal in neonates to address challenges in clinical care, quality improvement, research, and public policy for this patient population. STUDY DESIGN Between October and December 2020, we conducted 2 modified-Delphi panels using ExpertLens, a virtual platform for performing iterative expert engagement panels. Twenty clinical experts specializing in care for the substance-exposed mother-neonate dyad explored the necessity of key evidence-based clinical elements in defining opioid withdrawal in the neonate leading to a diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)/neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Expert consensus was assessed using descriptive statistics, the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, and thematic analysis of participants' comments. RESULTS Expert panels concluded the following were required for diagnosis: in utero exposure (known by history, not necessarily by toxicology testing) to opioids with or without the presence of other psychotropic substances, and the presence of at least two of the most common clinical signs characteristic of withdrawal (excessive crying, fragmented sleep, tremors, increased muscle tone, gastrointestinal dysfunction). CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that both a known history of in utero opioid exposure and a distinct set of withdrawal signs are necessary to standardize a definition of neonatal withdrawal. Implementation of a standardized definition requires both patient engagement and a mother-neonate dyadic approach mindful of program and policy implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahla M Jilani
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
| | - Hendrée E Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Matthew Grossman
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Lauren M Jansson
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Addiction and Pregnancy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Laura J Faherty
- Pardee RAND Graduate School, Santa Monica, CA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Stephen W Patrick
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Jonathan M Davis
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Tufts Children's Hospital and the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA
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Sujan A, Cleary E, Douglas E, Aujla R, Boyars L, Smith C, Guille C. A retrospective, observational study on medication for opioid use disorder during pregnancy and risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Fam Pract 2022; 39:311-315. [PMID: 34537839 PMCID: PMC8956128 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmab121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women is increasing. Research consistently demonstrates the efficacy of medications for OUD (MOUD); however, researchers have called for additional studies evaluating the safety of MOUD during pregnancy, particularly the relative safety of two commonly used MOUD medications-methadone and buprenorphine. This study aimed to evaluate the consequences of MOUD exposure during pregnancy on risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). METHODS In a clinical sample of infants born to women with OUD, we evaluated the risk of NAS among those exposed to (i) methadone and (ii) buprenorphine compared with those unexposed to MOUD, as well as the risk of NAS among those exposed to (i) methadone compared with those exposed to (ii) buprenorphine. RESULTS Compared with buprenorphine-exposed infants (n = 37), methadone-exposed infants (n = 27) were at increased risk for NAS (odds ratio [OR] = 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 21.17). Compared with unexposed infants (n = 43), buprenorphine-exposed infants were at decreased risk for NAS (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.14, 1.39) and methadone-exposed infants were at increased risk for NAS (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 0.79, 8.76), though these associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that when methadone and buprenorphine are equally appropriate options for the treatment of OUD in pregnant women, buprenorphine may add the additional benefit of reduced risk of newborn NAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Sujan
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Emma Cleary
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Edie Douglas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Rubin Aujla
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Lisa Boyars
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Claire Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Constance Guille
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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Velez ML, Jordan CJ, Jansson LM. Reconceptualizing non-pharmacologic approaches to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS): A theoretical and evidence-based approach. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 88:107020. [PMID: 34419619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Discussions about non-pharmacologic interventions for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NAS/NOWS) have been minor compared with wider attention to pharmacologic treatments. Although historically under-recognized, non-pharmacologic interventions are of paramount importance for all substance-exposed infants and remain as a first line therapy for the care of infants affected by NAS. Here we examine the role of non-pharmacologic interventions for NAS/NOWS by incorporating theoretical perspectives from different disciplines that inform the importance of individualized assessment of the mother-caregiver/infant dyad and interventions that involve both individuals. NAS/NOWS is a complex, highly individualized constellation of signs/symptoms that vary widely in onset, duration, severity, expression, responses to treatment and influence on long-term outcomes. NAS/NOWS often occurs in infants with multiple prenatal/postnatal factors that can compromise neurobiological self-regulatory functioning. We propose to rethink some of the long-held assumptions, beliefs, and paradigms about non-pharmacologic care of the infant with NAS/NOWS, which is provided as non-specific or as "bundled" in current approaches. This paper is Part I of a two-part series on re-conceptualizing non-pharmacologic care for NAS/NOWS as individualized treatment of the dyad. Here, we set the foundation for a new treatment approach grounded in developmental theory and evidence-based observations of infant neurobiology and neurodevelopment. In Part II, we provide actionable, individually tailored evaluations and approaches to non-pharmacologic NAS/NOWS treatment based on measurable domains of infant neurobehavioral functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Velez
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chloe J Jordan
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Lauren M Jansson
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Barry JM, Birnbaum AK, Jasin LR, Sherwin CM. Maternal Exposure and Neonatal Effects of Drugs of Abuse. J Clin Pharmacol 2021; 61 Suppl 2:S142-S155. [PMID: 34396555 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The public health crisis of pregnant women being exposed to drugs of abuse and of its impact on their unborn children continues to grow at an alarming rate globally. The state of pregnancy is unique, with physiological changes that can lead to changes in the way drugs are handled by the body in both pharmacokinetics and response. These changes place the pregnant woman, fetus, and newborn infant at risk, as many of these drugs can cross the placenta and into breast milk. The substances most commonly linked to harmful effects include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, and opioids. The pharmacological and toxicological changes caused by in utero exposure or breastfeeding exposure are difficult to study, and the full extent of the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. However, these changes can significantly affect the risks of substance abuse and influence optimal treatment of pregnant women with a substance use disorder. In addition, newborns who were exposed to drugs of abuse in utero can experience withdrawal syndromes. Pharmacological management in infants is used to guide and treat withdrawal symptoms, with the goal being to improve the infant's sleep, eating, and comfort. Several barriers may prevent pregnant women from seeking help for substance use, including stigma and interactions with the legal system. Understanding changes in pharmacology, including pharmacokinetic changes that happen during pregnancy, is essential for anticipating the extent of maternal exposure and neonatal adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Barry
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Angela K Birnbaum
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Lisa R Jasin
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Dayton Children's Hospital, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine M Sherwin
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton Children's Hospital, Dayton, Ohio, USA
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Abstract
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has significantly increased worldwide secondary to a marked increase in the incidence of opioid use disorders (OUD) in women of childbearing age. Since first described in 1975, the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring Tool (FNAST) remains the mainstay of monitoring NAS severity and its clinical management. The complexity of the tool (21 independent variables), the need for external validation, excessive subjectivity, poor inter-rater reliability, and uncertainty regarding the clinical relevance of some items has resulted in the need to develop an alternate scoring tool. A validated, simple, clinically relevant, and universally accepted approach to assessing opioid exposed neonates would facilitate high quality clinical care while assisting in the generation of generalizable data from future research studies conducted in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Singh
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Tufts Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Davis
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Tufts Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02111, USA; The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
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