Accuracy of diagnostic codes for prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

Advances in the Care of Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

A significant number of advances have been made in the last 5 years with respect to the identification, diagnosis, assessment, and management of infants with prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) from birth to early childhood. The primary objective of this review is to summarize major advances that will inform the clinical management of opioid-exposed newborns and provide an overview of NOWS care to promote the implementation of best practices. First, advances with respect to standardizing the clinical diagnosis of NOWS will be reviewed. Second, the most commonly used assessment strategies are discussed, with a focus on presenting new quality improvement and clinical trial data surrounding the use of the new function-based assessment Eat, Sleep, and Console approach. Third, both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment modalities are reviewed, highlighting clinical trials that have compared the use of higher calorie and low lactose formula, vibrating crib mattresses, morphine compared with methadone, buprenorphine compared with morphine or methadone, the use of ondansetron as a medication to prevent the need for NOWS opioid pharmacologic treatment, and the introduction of symptom-triggered dosing compared with scheduled dosing. Fourth, maternal, infant, environmental, and genetic factors that have been found to be associated with NOWS severity are highlighted. Finally, emerging recommendations on postdelivery hospitalization follow-up and developmental surveillance are presented, along with highlighting ongoing and needed areas of research to promote infant and family well-being for families impacted by opioid use.

Duration and Timing of In Utero Opioid Exposure and Incidence of Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between prenatal prescription opioid analgesic exposure (duration, timing) and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Wisconsin Medicaid-covered singleton live births from 2011 to 2019. The primary outcome was a NOWS diagnosis in the first 30 days of life. Opioid exposure was identified with any claim for prescription opioid analgesic fills during pregnancy. We measured exposure duration cumulatively in days (1-6, 7-29, 30-89, and 90 or more) and identified timing as early (first two trimesters only) or late (third trimester, regardless of earlier pregnancy use). We used logistic regression modeling to assess NOWS incidence by exposure duration and timing, with and without propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Overall, 31,456 (14.3%) of 220,570 neonates were exposed to prescription opioid analgesics prenatally. Among exposed neonates, 19,880 (63.2%) had 1-6 days of exposure, 7,694 (24.5%) had 7-29 days, 2,188 (7.0%) had 30-89 days, and 1,694 (5.4%) had 90 or more days of exposure; 15,032 (47.8%) had late exposure. Absolute NOWS incidence among neonates with 1-6 days of exposure was 7.29 per 1,000 neonates (95% CI 6.11-8.48), and incidence increased with longer exposure: 7-29 days (19.63, 95% CI 16.53-22.73); 30-89 days (58.96, 95% CI 49.08-68.84); and 90 or more days (177.10, 95% CI 158.90-195.29). Absolute NOWS incidence for early and late exposures were 11.26 per 1,000 neonates (95% CI 9.65-12.88) and 35.92 per 1,000 neonates (95% CI 32.95-38.90), respectively. When adjusting for confounders including timing of exposure, neonates exposed for 1-6 days had no increased odds of NOWS compared with unexposed neonates, whereas those exposed for 30 or more days had increased odds of NOWS (30-89 days: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.15, 95% CI 1.22-3.79; 90 or more days: 2.80, 95% CI 1.36-5.76). Late exposure was associated with elevated odds of NOWS (aOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.25-1.96) when compared with unexposed after adjustment for exposure duration.

CONCLUSION

More than 30 days of prenatal prescription opioid exposure was associated with NOWS regardless of exposure timing. Third-trimester opioid exposure, irrespective of exposure duration, was associated with NOWS.