Opioid, cocaine, and amphetamine use disorders are associated with higher30-day inpatient readmission rates in the United States

Expert Panel Consensus on the Effectiveness and Implementation of Models to Support Posthospitalization Care Transitions for People With Substance Use Disorders

OBJECTIVES

Hospitals are increasingly offering treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) during medical admissions. However, there is a lack of consensus on the best approach to facilitating a successful transition to long-term medical and SUD care after hospitalization. We aimed to establish a hierarchy of existing SUD care transition models in 2 categories-effectiveness and implementation-using an expert consensus approach.

METHODS

We conducted a modified online Delphi study that convened 25 interdisciplinary clinicians with experience facilitating posthospitalization care transitions for patients with SUD. Panelists rated 10 prespecified posthospitalization care transition models according to 6 criteria concerning each model's anticipated effectiveness (eg, linkage to care, treatment retention) and implementation (eg, feasibility, acceptability). Ratings were made on a 9-point bidirectional scale. Group consensus was determined using the interpercentile range adjusted for symmetry.

RESULTS

After 3 rounds of the Delphi process (96% retention across all 3 rounds), consensus was reached on all 60 rating criteria. Interdisciplinary addiction consult teams (ACTs) and in-reach from partnering outpatient clinics were rated highest for effectiveness. Interdisciplinary ACTs and bridge clinics were rated highest for implementation. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment; protocol implementation; and postdischarge outreach received the lowest ratings overall. Feasibility of implementation was perceived as the largest challenge for all highly rated models.

CONCLUSIONS

An expert consensus approach including diverse clinician stakeholders found that interdisciplinary ACT, in-reach from partnering outpatient clinics, and bridge clinics had the greatest potential to enhance posthospitalization care transitions for patients with SUD when considering both perceived effectiveness and implementation.

A state-level analysis of macro-level factors associated with hospital readmissions

Investigation of the factors that contribute to hospital readmissions has focused largely on individual level factors. We extend the knowledge base by exploring macrolevel factors that may contribute to readmissions. We point to environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors that are emerging as correlates to readmissions. Data were taken from publicly available reports provided by multiple agencies. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the association between economic stability and environmental factors on opioid use which was in turn tested for a direct association with hospital readmissions. We also tested whether hospital access as measured by the proportion of people per hospital moderates the relationship between opioid use and hospital readmissions. We found significant associations between Negative Economic Factors and Opioid Use, between Environmental Factors and Opioid Use, and between Opioid Use and Hospital Readmissions. We found that Hospital Access positively moderates the relationship between Opioid Use and Readmissions. A priori assumptions about factors that influence hospital readmissions must extend beyond just individualistic factors and must incorporate a holistic approach that also considers the impact of macrolevel environmental factors.

Comparison of Treatment Receipt and Hospitalization Among Patients With Stimulant Use Disorder and/or Opioid Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration

OBJECTIVES

Stimulant use is a growing problem, but little is known about service utilization among patients with stimulant use disorder (StUD). In the context of the overdose crisis, much research has focused on patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). It is unclear how the characteristics, treatment receipt, and hospitalization of patients with StUD differ from patients with OUD.

METHODS

Electronic health record data were extracted for national Veterans Health Administration patients with a visit from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021 with StUD and/or OUD (N = 132,273). We compared patients with StUD without OUD to those with (1) co-occurring StUD + OUD and (2) OUD without StUD. Patient characteristics, substance use disorder treatment, and hospitalizations in the year following patients' first study period visit were descriptively compared. Treatment and hospitalization were also compared in adjusted regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with patients with OUD + StUD, those with StUD without OUD were less likely to receive outpatient (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.50) or any treatment (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.46-0.49). Compared with patients with OUD without StUD, those with StUD without OUD were less likely to receive outpatient (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.49-0.52) or any treatment (aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.54-0.58) and more likely to receive residential treatment (aOR 2.18, 95% 2.05-2.30) and to be hospitalized (aOR 1.62, 95% 1.56-1.69).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with StUD may be less likely to receive treatment and more likely to be hospitalized than patients with OUD. Efforts focused on mitigating hospitalization and increasing treatment receipt for patients with StUD are needed.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors among hospitalized patients with substance use disorders: Findings from a retrospective cohort study of a Canadian inpatient addiction medicine service

INTRODUCTION

Inpatient addiction medicine services (AMS) were developed in response to the growing needs of hospitalized individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). AMS aim to enable timely initiation of pharmacologic treatment, build hospital capacity to support patients who use substances, and facilitate transition to community services. As an emerging service being adopted in hospitals across North America, the model of care, populations served, substance use trends, and clinical trajectory has not been widely described. This work aims to characterize patients accessing care through the AMS, establishing predictors for clinical trajectories in hospital including patient-initiated discharge (PID) and hospital re-admission.

METHODS

Using a retrospective cohort design, we describe all patients seen by the AMS between 2018 and 2022 across four hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario. Patients seen by AMS were hospitalized and qualified for a SUD based on DSM-V criteria. The study used descriptive statistics to describe the cohort, where appropriate adjusted time-to-event survival models were constructed to identify predictors for hospital re-admission.

RESULTS

Patients seen by the AMS (n = 695) frequently lacked access to primary care (47.0 %) and less than half (44.3 %) were receiving community addiction services on admission. The majority met criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD), with injecting being the primary consumption route (54.8 %). Patients exhibited high acuity, with 34.2 % requiring critical care measures. Provision of OAT substantially increased to 77.9 % of patients (29 % on admission). PID occurred in 17.8 % of patients and was significantly associated with an admitting diagnosis of suicidal ideation, infection, heart failure, and distinct substance use profiles including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin use (p < 0.05). PID conferred a 66 % increased risk for re-admission (Hazard-Ratio: 1.66; 95 % CI: 1.08, 2.54; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Patients served by AMS primarily include individuals with OUD presenting with the associated medical complications and substantial deficits in the social determinants of health (e.g., high housing insecurity, poverty, and disability). PID occurs among 1 in 5 people and is associated with higher rates of re-admission. By identifying individuals at higher risk of adverse outcomes, these results provide an opportunity to improve outcomes in this high-risk, high-vulnerability population.

Acute care utilization and its associated determinants among patients with substance-related disorders: A worldwide systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Identifying determinants of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization among patients with substance-related disorders (SRDs) can improve health services to address unmet health needs.

AIM

The present study aimed to identify the prevalence rates of ED use and hospitalization, and their associated determinants among patients with SRDs.

METHODS

Studies in English published from January 1, 1995, to December 1, 2022, were searched on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify primary studies.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence rates of ED use and hospitalization among patients with SRDs were 36% and 41%, respectively. Patients with SRDs who were the most at risk of being both ED users and hospitalized were those (i) having medical insurance, (ii) having other drug and alcohol use disorders, (iii) having mental health disorders, and (iv) having chronic physical illnesses. A lower level of education increased the risk of ED use only.

DISCUSSION

To decrease ED use and hospitalization, more comprehensive services may be offered to these vulnerable patients with diversified needs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Chronic care integrating outreach interventions could be more provided for patients with SRDs after discharge from acute care units or hospitals.

Cocaine Use is Associated With Increased LVMI in Unstably Housed Women With Polysubstance Use

BACKGROUND

While substance use is known to influence cardiovascular health, most prior studies only consider one substance at a time. We examined associations between the concurrent use of multiple substances and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in unhoused and unstably housed women.

METHODS

Between 2016 and 2019, we conducted a cohort study of unstably housed women in which measurements included an interview, serum/urine collection, vital sign assessment, and a single transthoracic echocardiogram at baseline. We evaluated independent associations between 39 separate substances confirmed through toxicology and echocardiography-confirmed LVMI.

RESULTS

The study included 194 participants with a median age of 53.5 years and a high proportion of women of color (72.6%). Toxicology-confirmed substance use included: 69.1% nicotine, 56.2% cocaine, 28.9% methamphetamines, 28.9% alcohol, 23.2% opioid analgesics, and 9.8% opioids with catecholaminergic effects. In adjusted analysis, cocaine was independently associated with higher LVMI (Adjusted linear effect: 18%; 95% CI 9.9, 26.6). Associations with other substances did not reach levels of significance and did not significantly interact with cocaine.

CONCLUSION

In a population of vulnerable women where the use of multiple substances is common, cocaine stands out as having particularly detrimental influences on cardiac structure. Blood pressure did not attenuate the association appreciably, suggesting direct effects of cocaine on LVMI. Routinely evaluating stimulant use as a chronic risk factor during risk assessment and preventive clinical care planning may reduce end organ damage, particularly in highly vulnerable women.

Substance Use Among Patients With Incident Crohn's Disease in the United States, 2010 to 2019: A Medicaid Observational Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Substance use among persons with Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with symptomatic exacerbation and poorer quality of life. However, data on the prevalence of substance use among individuals with CD are limited. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate the burden of alcohol and drug use among individuals with incident CD in the United States. We also assessed the associations between CD-related interventions and substance use after CD diagnosis.

METHODS

Our retrospective cohort study of the national Medicaid databases from 2010 to 2019 identified participants with newly diagnosed CD and defined substance use (ie, alcohol, opioids, cocaine, amphetamine, and cannabis) using diagnosis codes. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the associations between CD-related interventions and substance use after CD diagnosis.

RESULTS

Overall, 16.3% of Medicaid enrollees with incident CD had substance ever-use, most commonly alcohol or opioids (each 8.0%). Any substance use saw an absolute decrease of 3.8% after CD diagnosis, but changes were less than 1% in either direction for each substance. CD-related hospitalization was associated with increased alcohol or opioid use post-CD diagnosis. Surgery was associated with lower use post-CD of opioids but not alcohol. CD medications (except steroids) were generally associated with decreased post-CD alcohol or opioid use.

CONCLUSION

Among Medicaid enrollees with incident CD, alcohol and opioid use were more frequent than previously published estimates for the general US population (6% and 4%, respectively, in 2019). Consequently, medical communities must be more aware of substance use by patients with CD to provide quality patient-centered care.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among Trauma Patients in Rural West Virginia

BACKGROUND

 Substance abuse poses considerable clinical, economic, and social challenges. West Virginia is hailed as the epicenter of the substance abuse in the United States, the prevalence and pattern of different trauma mechanisms in a rural context or in patients with different forms of substance abuse remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

 We performed the following analysis to understand the prevalence of substance abuse in patients with different trauma mechanisms in the rural setting with high substance abuse in the West Virginia.

METHODS

 We performed a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of adult trauma patients (motor vehicle, fall, assault, firearm suicide, brawl/rape and machinery) hospitalized in two tertiary care hospitals in West Virginia between 2006 and 2016. We identified all patients who had a urine drug screen (UDS) test and extracted the data related to the substance and trauma.

RESULTS

 Among 8734 patients screened using UDS, 5940 (68.1%) patients were tested positive for the substance. Opiates, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and cannabis were the four most common substances identified in trauma victims. In all instances, the prescribed drug was less than 20%. Fatal outcome was observed in 366 patients in the sample, with 44% (n=162) testing positive for UDS, 12% (n=45) testing positive for only alcohol, and 15% (n=56) testing positive for both alcohol and UDS. Regarding the trauma mechanism, the motor vehicle accident (MVA) was the most prominent with a clear association of substance abuse with fatal outcome.

CONCLUSION

 The most prevalent trauma mechanism was a MVA, with a strong link between drug usage and mortality. Due to the high incidence of positive substance abuse screens, UDS tests may need to be more widely implemented in trauma in the West Virginia region. The findings of this study might help in establishing regional or national policies to reduce acute substance abuse.

Emergency Department Use, Hospitalization, and Their Sociodemographic Determinants among Patients with Substance-Related Disorders: A Worldwide Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Identifying the determinants of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization among patients with substance-related disorders (SRD) can help inform healthcare services and case management regarding their unmet health needs and strategies to reduce their acute care. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify sociodemographic characteristics, type of used drug, and risky behaviors associated with ED use and hospitalization among patients with SRD. Methods: Studies in English published from January 1st, 1995 to April 30th, 2022 were searched from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify primary studies on ED use and hospitalization among patients with SRD. Results: Of the 17,348 outputs found, a total of 39 studies met the eligibility criteria. Higher ED use and hospitalization among patients with SRD were associated with a history of homelessness (ED use: OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.32-2.83; hospitalization: OR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.36-1.73) or of injection drug use (ED use: OR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.13-1.59; hospitalization: OR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.20-1.69). Being female (OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.14-1.35), using methamphetamine (OR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.24-3.21) and tobacco (OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.11-1.42), having HIV (OR = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.47-1.96), a history of incarceration (OR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.27-2.85) and injury (OR = 2.62, 95%CI = 1.08-6.35) increased ED use only, while having age over 30  years (OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.08-1.81) and using cocaine (OR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.32-1.95) increased hospitalization only among patients with SRD. Conclusions: The finding outline the necessity of developing outreach program and primary care referral for patients with SRD. Establishing a harm reduction program, incorporating needle/syringe exchange programs, and safe injection training with the aim of declining ED use and hospitalization, is likely be another beneficial strategy for patients with SRD.

Real-world effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotics to reduce 90-day and annual readmission in psychotic disorders: insights from a state psychiatric hospital

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI-a) in reducing the 90-day and annual readmission rates in schizophrenia inpatients.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study and included 180 adult patients with psychotic disorders discharged from 2018 to 2019 at a state psychiatric hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to measure the differences between the readmit and nonreadmit cohorts. Logistic regression model was used to measure the odds ratio (OR) for 90-day and annual readmission and was controlled for potential readmission risk factors.

RESULTS

A lower proportion of patients receiving LAI-a were readmitted within 90-day (28.6%) and 1-year (32.4%) periods. Patients receiving LAI-a had lower odds of association for 90-day (OR 0.36, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.139-0.921) and annual (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.131-0.954) readmissions compared to those discharged on oral antipsychotics. A higher proportion of inpatients who received fluphenazine LAI had 90-day (25%) and annual (18.2%) readmissions compared to other LAI-a.

CONCLUSION

Utilization of LAI-a in patients with psychotic disorders can decrease both 90-day and annual psychiatric readmissions by 64% to 65%. Physicians should prefer LAI-a to reduce the readmission rate and improve the quality of life, and decrease the healthcare-related financial burden.

Substance Use/Dependence in Psychiatric Emergency Setting Leading to Hospitalization: Predictors of Continuity of Care

Background: Poor adherence to treatment is a common clinical problem in individuals affected by mental illness and substance use/dependence. In Italy, mental care is organized in a psychiatric service and addiction unit (SERD), characterized by dual independent assets of treatment. This difference, in the Emergency Room setting, leads to a risk of discontinuity of treatment in case of hospitalization. In this study we clinically characterized individuals who decided to attend hospital post-discharge appointments at SERD, in accordance with medical advice. Methods: This is a retrospective study, based on two years of discharged records of patients entering “Versilia Hospital” (Viareggio, Italy) emergency room, with urinalyses testing positive for substance use, and hospitalization after psychiatric consultation. The sample was divided according to the presence or absence of SERD consultation after discharge. Results: In the 2-year period of the present study, 1005 individuals were hospitalized. Considering the inclusion criterion of the study, the sample consisted of 264 individuals. Of these, 128 patients attended post-discharge appointments at SERD showing urinalyses positive to cocaine, opiates, and poly use; they were more frequently diagnosed as personality disorder and less frequently as bipolar disorder. The prediction was higher for patients that had already been treated at SERD, for patients who received SERD consultation during hospitalization, and for patients with positive urinalyses to cocaine and opiates at treatment entry. Conversely, patients who did not attend SERD consultation after discharge were affected by bipolar disorders. Limitations: Small sample size. Demographical data are limited to gender and age due to paucity of data in hospital information systems. SERD is located far from the hospital and is open only on weekdays; thus, it cannot ensure a consultation with all inpatients. Conclusions: Mental illness diagnosis, the set of substance use positivity at hospitalization, and having received SERD consultation during hospitalization appeared to have a critical role in promoting continuity of care. Moreover, to reduce the gap between the need and the provision of the treatment, a more effective personalized individual program of care should be implemented.

Experiences with an addiction consultation service on care provided to hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder: a qualitative study of hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers

Background: In response to the opioid epidemic, addiction consultation services (ACS) increasingly provide dedicated hospital-based addiction treatment to patients with substance use disorder. We assessed hospitalist and medical staff perceptions of how the presence of 2 hospitals' ACS impacted care for hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). We inquired about ongoing challenges in caring for this patient population.Methods: We conducted a qualitative study of hospital-based providers utilizing focus groups and key informant interviews for data collection. Transcripts were analyzed using a mixed inductive-deductive approach. Emergent themes were identified through an iterative, multidisciplinary team-based process using a directed content analysis approach.Results: Hospitalists (n = 20), nurses (n = 13), social workers (n = 11), and pharmacists (n = 18) from a university hospital and a safety-net hospital in Colorado participated in focus groups or key informant interviews. In response to the availability of an ACS, hospitalists described increased confidence using methadone and buprenorphine to treat opioid withdrawal, which they perceived as contributing to improved patient outcomes and greater job satisfaction. Participants expressed concern about inconsistent care provided to patients with OUD that varied by the admitting team's specialty and the physician's background and training. Nurses and hospitalists reported frustrations with achieving adequate pain control among patients with OUD. Last, pharmacists reported practice variations when physicians dosed buprenorphine for acute pain among patients with OUD. A lack of standardized dosing led to concerns of inadequate analgesia or return to opioid use following hospital discharge.Conclusions: An ACS reportedly supports hospitalists and medical staff to best care for hospitalized patients with OUD. Notably, care provided to patients with OUD may not be uniform depending on various physician-level factors. Future work to address the concerns reported by study participants may include education for OUD treatment, early involvement of the ACS, and incorporation of buprenorphine prescribing algorithms to standardize care.

Frequencies of emergency department use and hospitalization comparing patients with different types of substance or polysubstance-related disorders

Background

This study measured emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization for medical reasons among patients with substance-related disorders (SRD), comparing four subgroups: cannabis-related disorders, drug-related disorders other than cannabis, alcohol-related disorders and polysubstance-related disorders, controlling for various clinical, sociodemographic and service use variables.

Methods

Clinical administrative data for a cohort of 22,484 patients registered in Quebec (Canada) addiction treatment centers in 2012-13 were extracted for the years 2009-10 to 2015-16. Using negative binomial models, risks of frequent ED use and hospitalization were calculated for a 12-month period (2015-16).

Results

Patients with polysubstance-related disorders used ED more frequently than other groups with SRD. They were hospitalized more frequently than patients with cannabis or other drug-related disorders, but less frequently than those with alcohol-related disorders. Patients with alcohol-related disorders used ED more frequently than those with cannabis-related disorders and underwent more hospitalizations than both patients with cannabis-related and other drug-related disorders. Co-occurring SRD-mental disorders or SRD-chronic physical illnesses, more years with SRD, being women, living in rural territories, more frequent consultations with usual general practitioner or outpatient psychiatrist, and receiving more interventions in community healthcare centers increased frequency of ED use and hospitalization, whereas both adverse outcomes decreased with high continuity of physician care. Behavioral addiction, age less than 45 years, living in more materially deprived areas, and receiving 1-3 interventions in addiction treatment centers increased risk of frequent ED use, whereas living in semi-urban areas decreased ED use. Patients 25-44 years old receiving 4+ interventions in addiction treatment centers experienced less frequent hospitalization.

Conclusion

Findings showed higher risk of ED use among patients with polysubstance-related disorders, and higher hospitalization risk among patients with alcohol-related disorders, compared with patients affected by cannabis and other drug-related disorders. However, other variables contributed substantially more to the frequency of ED use and hospitalization, particularly clinical variables regarding complexity and severity of health conditions, followed by service use variables. Another important finding was that high continuity of physician care helped decrease the use of acute care services. Strategies like integrated care and outreach interventions may enhance SRD services.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13011-021-00421-7.

Leveraging health information exchange for clinical research: Extreme underreporting of hospital service utilization among patients with substance use disorders

BACKGROUND

Substance use disorders are associated with inefficient and fragmented use of healthcare services. The Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients, Inc. (CRISP) is a Health Information Exchange (HIE) linking disparate systems of care in the mid-Atlantic region.

METHODS

This article describes applications of HIE for tracking hospital service utilization in substance use disorder clinical and services research, drawing upon data from one of the first studies approved to access the CRISP HIE. Participants were 200 medical/surgical inpatients with comorbid opioid, cocaine, and/or alcohol use disorder (45.5 % female; 56.5 % black; 77.5 % opioid use disorder; 42.0 % homeless). This study compared HIE-identified hospital service utilization with conventional methods of participant self-report during in-person research follow-ups (3-, 6-, and 12-months post-discharge) and electronic health record (EHR) review from the hospital system of the index admission.

RESULTS

This sample exhibited high levels of hospital utilization, which would have been underestimated using conventional methods. Relying exclusively on self-report in the 12-month observation period would have identified only 33.8 % of 429 inpatient hospitalizations and 9.0 % of 1,287 ED visits, due to both loss-to-follow-up and failure to report events. Even combining self-report with single-system EHR review identified only 66.2 % of inpatient hospitalizations and 59.8 % of ED visits.

CONCLUSIONS

CRISP HIE data were superior to conventional methods for ascertaining hospital service utilization in this sample of patients exhibiting high-volume and fragmented care. The use of HIE holds implications for improving rigor, safety, and efficiency in research studies.