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Centanni N, Mezoian T, Gilboy J, Evans J, Hudak N, Craig W, Gordon L. Effect of Phenobarbital-Based Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol on Provider Practice and Patient Outcomes-A Quality Improvement Study. Hosp Pharm 2024; 59:562-567. [PMID: 39328295 PMCID: PMC11423363 DOI: 10.1177/00185787241247716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: Alcohol is the most common substance use disorder in the United States. Despite this prevalence, there remains significant heterogeneity in medical management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). While the 2020 American Society of Addition Medicine continues to recommend the use of benzodiazepines as first-line therapy for AWS, there is increasing use of phenobarbital in patients at high risk of severe AWS. Despite phenobarbital's favorable pharmacologic profile, historically, clinical utilization on general medicine services has been low and often restricted. In this project, we have examined practice patterns and associated clinical outcomes in adult patients experiencing AWS on the general medicine service pre and post implementation of a phenobarbital-based protocol for the treatment of severe AWS at our institution. Methods: This quality improvement study evaluated changes in management of AWS on general medicine units associated with implementation of a phenobarbital-based protocol and order set in the electronic medical record (EMR). Our primary outcome measures were receipt of a phenobarbital loading dose, concomitant benzodiazepine administration, and total benzodiazepine dose. Safety outcomes were also explored to assess clinical impacts of this protocol implementation. The project was determined "not research" by our Institutional Review Board. Results: Phenobarbital-protocol implementation was associated with increased frequency of receiving a phenobarbital loading dose (49.5% vs 9.4%; P < .001), decreased use of concomitant benzodiazepine/phenobarbital (4.3% vs 28.9%; P < .001), and decreased total benzodiazepine dose (7.8 vs 15.5 mg; P < .001). Regarding safety, there was no significant pre/post difference in the rate of ICU transfer, but among those transferred there was a trend toward decreased mechanical ventilation rate (100% vs 28.6%; P = .051), and a significantly reduced ICU length of stay (median 11 vs 3 days; P = .04). There were no pre/post differences in seizures, delirium or use of adjunct medications. Conclusions: This quality improvement study demonstrates a marked change in provider prescribing practices for treating AWS after implementation of an institutional phenobarbital-based protocol. We observed no difference in overall clinical outcomes after protocol implementation, although a larger follow-up study is needed to confirm this and to further explore the shorter ICU length of stay for patients with AWS postimplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Wendy Craig
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME, USA
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Kessel KM, Olson LM, Kruse DA, Lyden ER, Whiston KE, Blodgett MM, Balasanova AA. Phenobarbital Versus Benzodiazepines for the Treatment of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal. Ann Pharmacother 2024; 58:877-885. [PMID: 38247044 DOI: 10.1177/10600280231221241] [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] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenobarbital may offer advantages over benzodiazepines for severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (SAWS), but its impact on clinical outcomes has not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical impact of phenobarbital versus benzodiazepines for SAWS. METHODS This retrospective cohort study compared phenobarbital to benzodiazepines for the management of SAWS for patients admitted to progressive or intensive care units (ICUs) between July 2018 and July 2022. Patients included had a history of delirium tremens (DT) or seizures, Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) >15, or Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS) score ≥4. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included progressive or ICU LOS, incidence of adjunctive pharmacotherapy, and incidence/duration of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS The final analysis included 126 phenobarbital and 98 benzodiazepine encounters. Patients treated with phenobarbital had shorter median hospital LOS versus those treated with benzodiazepines (2.8 vs 4.7 days; P < 0.0001); a finding corroborated by multivariable analysis. The phenobarbital group also had shorter median progressive/ICU LOS (0.7 vs 1.3 days; P < 0.0001), and lower incidence of dexmedetomidine (P < 0.0001) and antipsychotic initiation (P < 0.0001). Fewer patients in the phenobarbital group compared to the benzodiazepine group received new mechanical ventilation (P = 0.045), but median duration was similar (1.2 vs 1.6 days; P = 1.00). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Scheduled phenobarbital was associated with decreased hospital LOS compared to benzodiazepines for SAWS. This was the first study to compare outcomes of fixed-dose, nonoverlapping phenobarbital to benzodiazepines in patients with clearly defined SAWS and details a readily implementable protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Logan M Olson
- Department of Pharmacy, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Derek A Kruse
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Lyden
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Mindy M Blodgett
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Alena A Balasanova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Johnson M, Cosentino D, Fuehrlein B. A detox dilemma beyond benzodiazepines; clonidine's quandary in alcohol withdrawal management. Am J Addict 2024. [PMID: 39096168 DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Benzodiazepines are the primary method of treatment of alcohol withdrawal, though the American Society of Addiction Medicine guidelines also include alternative agents for consideration. Observations in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric emergency room noted consistent benzodiazepine use with an overall lack of use of alternative agents, even with low Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) scores and in the absence of other concerning symptoms. Due to concerns of potential more-than-necessary benzodiazepine use, we analyzed adjunctive clonidine use for elevated blood pressure/pulse in alcohol withdrawal among this Veteran population. METHODS This is a single-site VA retrospective chart review of the psychiatric emergency room from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, focused on patients with alcohol withdrawal managed on a CIWA protocol. Excluding concurrent opioid withdrawal and clonidine as home medication, 167 patient charts were analyzed for this study. RESULTS Among 167 patients, 99 (59.3%) had comorbid hypertension. A total of 614 medication doses were given for elevated CIWA (373, 60.8%) and elevated blood pressure/pulse (241, 39.2%). Of the 241 doses for elevated blood pressure/pulse, only 2.5% were clonidine. Among all benzodiazepine doses, 75.3% were given to patients with comorbid hypertension. Clonidine was administered to 3.0% of patients, making up 2.5% of total dosing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Alcohol withdrawal management lacks optimization. Integrating adjunctive medications could reduce potential benzodiazepine overuse effectively addressing elevated blood pressure/pulse. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This study sheds light on the potential underutilization of clonidine and its potential role in improving alcohol withdrawal syndrome management. By addressing elevated blood pressure/pulse and curbing potential overuse of benzodiazepines, it may contribute to further optimizing patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, West Haven VA Medical Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Danielle Cosentino
- Department of Psychiatry, West Haven VA Medical Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Brian Fuehrlein
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, West Haven VA Medical Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Brooks L, Reinert JP. Phenobarbital Dosing for the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Review of the Literature. J Pharm Technol 2024; 40:186-193. [PMID: 39157637 PMCID: PMC11325683 DOI: 10.1177/87551225241249407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: To determine the most appropriate phenobarbital dosing regimen by evaluating the safety and efficacy of the drug when specifically used in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Data sources: A comprehensive literary search was conducted using PubMed and bibliographic mining in October 2023. Study selection and data extraction: An established monotherapy phenobarbital regimen needed to be established within the article to be included in analysis. Location of implementation was not a deterrent to evaluation, nor was the route of phenobarbital administration. Data synthesis: Six publications were evaluated in this review, and two main phenobarbital dosing regimens emerged. While fix-based dosing strategies and weight-based dosing strategies resulted, the dosing within the regimens resulted in the same or relatively similar doses employed, respectively. Each of the studies had a statistically significant decrease in their primary outcome being studied, and the use of phenobarbital as monotherapy was proven to improve AWS symptoms, significantly decrease intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, decrease the use of adjunctive medications, decrease the use of a ventilator, and prevent seizures. Conclusions: Despite benzodiazepines having been the clinical first-line therapy for AWS, research shows that the pharmacokinetic stability and clinical benefits of phenobarbital are in support creation of phenobarbital protocols, as monotherapy, in hospitals or institutions for patients with AWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Brooks
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Justin P. Reinert
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
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Potter KM, Prendergast NT, Boyd JG. From Traditional Typing to Intelligent Insights: A Narrative Review of Directions Toward Targeted Therapies in Delirium. Crit Care Med 2024; 52:1285-1294. [PMID: 39007569 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000006362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Delirium is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by an acute change in level of consciousness that is associated with inattention and disorganized thinking. Delirium affects most critically ill patients and is associated with poor patient-oriented outcomes such as increased mortality, longer ICU and hospital length of stay, and worse long-term cognitive outcomes. The concept of delirium and its subtypes has existed since nearly the beginning of recorded medical literature, yet robust therapies have yet to be identified. Analogous to other critical illness syndromes, we suspect the lack of identified therapies stems from patient heterogeneity and prior subtyping efforts that do not capture the underlying etiology of delirium. The time has come to leverage machine learning approaches, such as supervised and unsupervised clustering, to identify clinical and pathophysiological distinct clusters of delirium that will likely respond differently to various interventions. We use sedation in the ICU as an example of how precision therapies can be applied to critically ill patients, highlighting the fact that while for some patients a sedative drug may cause delirium, in another cohort sedation is the specific treatment. Finally, we conclude with a proposition to move away from the term delirium, and rather focus on the treatable traits that may allow precision therapies to be tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M Potter
- Center for Research, Investigation, and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness (CRISMA), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Niall T Prendergast
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - J Gordon Boyd
- Department of Medicine (Neurology) and Critical Care Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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Luzum NR, Beckius A, Heinrich TW, Stoner K. Implementation of an Evidence-Based Treatment Protocol and Order Set for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. J Healthc Qual 2024:01445442-990000000-00079. [PMID: 39046828 DOI: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is highly prevalent in hospital inpatients. Recent evidence supports use of phenobarbital and gabapentin in certain patients, and screening tools for severe withdrawal risk can be used to guide care. Inpatients with AWS should also be considered for evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). PURPOSE The purpose of this quality improvement study was to monitor clinical outcomes and prescribing habits after updating an electronic order set for inpatient AWS management at a large, academic hospital. METHODS Protocol updates included use of the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale, phenobarbital and gabapentin protocols, and linkage to treatment resources. Data were collected for 10 months before and 14 months after implementation. RESULTS Intensive care unit (ICU) transfer rate decreased by 2.3%, whereas length of stay and readmissions were not significantly different. In patients treated with the order set, ICU transfer and length of stay outcomes were superior. Patients treated through the order set were more likely to receive evidence-based treatment for AWS and AUD. CONCLUSIONS Electronic order sets can promote evidence-based practice for AWS. The updated protocol will remain in place at the study institution, with future efforts focused on education and ease of use to increase order set utilization.
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Simpson TL, Achtmeyer C, Batten L, Reoux J, Shofer J, Peskind ER, Saxon AJ, Raskind MA. Naltrexone augmented with prazosin for alcohol use disorder: results from a randomized controlled proof-of-concept trial. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae062. [PMID: 39270736 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae062] [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] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS We conducted a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial of the mu-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrexone, augmented with the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, prazosin, for alcohol use disorder in veterans. We sought a signal that the naltrexone plus prazosin combination regimen would be superior to naltrexone alone. METHODS Thirty-one actively drinking veterans with alcohol use disorder were randomized 1:1:1:1 to naltrexone plus prazosin (NAL-PRAZ [n = 8]), naltrexone plus placebo (NAL-PLAC [n = 7]), prazosin plus placebo (PRAZ-PLAC [n = 7]), or placebo plus placebo (PLAC-PLAC [n = 9]) for 6 weeks. Prazosin was titrated over 2 weeks to a target dose of 4 mg QAM, 4 mg QPM, and 8 mg QHS. Naltrexone was administered at 50 mg QD. Primary outcomes were the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), % drinking days (PDD), and % heavy drinking days (PHDD). RESULTS In the NAL-PRAZ condition, % reductions from baseline for all three primary outcome measures exceeded 50% and were at least twice as large as % reductions in the NAL-PLAC condition (PACS: 57% vs. 26%; PDD: 51% vs. 22%; PHDD: 69% vs. 15%) and in the other two comparator conditions. Standardized effect sizes between NAL-PRAZ and NAL-PLAC for each primary outcome measure were >0.8. All but one participant assigned to the two prazosin containing conditions achieved the target prazosin dose of 16 mg/day and maintained that dose for the duration of the trial. CONCLUSION These results suggest that prazosin augmentation of naltrexone enhances naltrexone benefit for alcohol use disorder. These results strengthen rationale for an adequately powered definitive randomized controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Simpson
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE), Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Carol Achtmeyer
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE), Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
| | - Lisa Batten
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE), Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
| | - Joseph Reoux
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE), Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Jane Shofer
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
- VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
| | - Elaine R Peskind
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
- VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
| | - Andrew J Saxon
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE), Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Murray A Raskind
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195
- VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 So. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
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Weimer MB, Devoto A, Kansagara D, Safarian T, Brunner E, Stock A, Rastegar DA, Nelson LS, Tirado CF, Korthuis PT, Boyle MP. The American Society of Addiction Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Development Methodology. J Addict Med 2024; 18:366-372. [PMID: 38752709 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) since 2015. As ASAM's CPG work continues to develop, it maintains an organizational priority to establish rigorous standards for the trustworthy production of these important documents. In keeping with ASAM's mission to define and promote evidence-based best practices in addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery, ASAM has rigorously updated its CPG methodology to be in line with evolving international standards. The CPG Methodology and Oversight Subcommittee was formed to establish and publish a methodology for the development of ASAM CPGs and to develop an ASAM CPG strategic plan. This article provides a focused overview of the ASAM CPG methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa B Weimer
- From the Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (MBW); American Society of Addiction Medicine, Rockville, MD (AD, TS, MPB); VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR (DK); Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR (DK, PTK); Gateway Recovery Center, Lake Elmo, MN (EB); USA Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, APO, AE (AS); Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (DAR); Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ (LSN); and CARMA Health, Austin, TX (CFT)
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Lorbiecki M, Gidal A, Hagle M, Smith T, Ragen-Pease K, Peterson K, Matye M, Kowol MA, Lampe E. Implementing an Updated Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom Management Order Set Focused on Patient Safety. J Addict Nurs 2024; 35:122-131. [PMID: 39356583 DOI: 10.1097/jan.0000000000000584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal often receive care on inpatient mental health units. Registered nurses on one such unit had several concerns and questions about the existing alcohol withdrawal symptom management order set. To address these issues, a multidisciplinary team including nurses, psychiatrists, and pharmacists was formed. OBJECTIVES The aims for this project were to review and revise the existing order set, educate staff, implement the changes, and evaluate outcomes. METHODS The Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement framework guided the project. Five phases were completed to revise the order set and implement: a survey of nurses on the unit, community practice evaluation, and order set revisions. A simulation escape room facilitated nursing education. Patient records were reviewed to identify adverse events. RESULTS Diazepam replaced lorazepam as the primary medication choice, and a front-loading protocol was added. Order set clarity was improved, education increased nursing staff confidence to competently complete a patient assessment with the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Scale Revised, and no adverse patient events occurred after implementation. CONCLUSION A revised order set for symptom management of patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal reflected up-to-date evidence while maintaining patient safety. All nurses agreed the revised order set was clear and easy to follow; pharmacists and physicians were satisfied with the revisions. Implications for leaders include having a multidisciplinary team, sufficient resources to answer clinical questions, and regular discussions by all involved disciplines to review any adverse events as well as newly published evidence. Close monitoring of patients early in implementation is recommended to detect adverse events.
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Brickel KH, Hodge EK, Zavgorodnyaya D, Schroeder JM, Brown LH, Daley MJ. A Comparison of Injectable Diazepam and Lorazepam in the Goal-Directed Management of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal. Ann Pharmacother 2024; 58:453-460. [PMID: 37606361 DOI: 10.1177/10600280231194790] [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] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines are the gold standard for treatment of alcohol withdrawal, yet the selection of a preferred benzodiazepine is limited due to a lack of comparative studies. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of injectable lorazepam (LZP) and diazepam (DZP) in the treatment of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). METHODS Retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit with a primary diagnosis of AWS. Subjects who received at least 12 LZP equivalent units (LEU) of injectable DZP or LZP within 24 hours of initiation of the severe AWS protocol were included. The primary outcome was time with Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) scores at goal over the first 24 hours of treatment. RESULTS A total of 191 patients were included (DZP n = 89, LZP n = 102). Time with CIWA-Ar scores at goal during the first 24 hours was similar between groups (DZP 12 hours [interquartile range, IQR, = 9-15] vs LZP 14 hours [IQR = 10-17]), P = 0.06). At 24 hours, LEU requirement was similar (DZP 40 [IQR = 22-78] vs LZP 32 [IQR = 18-56], P = 0.05). Drug cost at 24 hours was higher in the DZP group ($204.6 [IQR = 112.53-398.97] vs $8 [IQR = 4.5-14], P < 0.01). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE DZP or LZP are equally efficacious for the treatment of severe AWS. LZP may be preferred due to cost but both medications can be used interchangeably based on availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall H Brickel
- Department of Pharmacy, Dell Seton Medical Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Emily K Hodge
- Department of Pharmacy, Dell Seton Medical Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Daria Zavgorodnyaya
- Department of Pharmacy, Dell Seton Medical Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - John M Schroeder
- Department of Pharmacy, Dell Seton Medical Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Lawrence H Brown
- Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mitchell J Daley
- Department of Pharmacy, Dell Seton Medical Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
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Thaller M, Wong A, Yankama T, Eche IM, Elsamadisi P. Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes Associated With Phenobarbital With Taper Compared to No Taper for the Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Ann Pharmacother 2024:10600280241236412. [PMID: 38501811 DOI: 10.1177/10600280241236412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenobarbital (PHB) has been shown to be an effective treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), with multiple dosing strategies used (e.g., single-dose and symptom-triggered). Studies have often used tapered doses, typically following a front-loaded dose, despite PHB's long half-life which should lead to an ability to auto-taper. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes associated with two PHB dosing strategies (taper [T], no taper [NT]) for AWS. METHODS This retrospective cohort study compared adult patients admitted to the ICU from October 2017 to May 2019 who received an initial loading dose of PHB for AWS. The use of PHB was at the discretion of the clinician per our institutional guidelines. Prior to November 2018, patients were prescribed a PHB taper, while after this period, the taper was no longer recommended. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients requiring rescue PHB or adjunctive medications for AWS. Secondary outcomes included number of adjunctive agents used, prevalence of severe manifestations of AWS, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, and incidence of potentially significant drug interactions. RESULTS A total of 172 patients were included (T: n = 81, NT: n = 91). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, including history of severe AWS and cumulative benzodiazepine dose pre-PHB. There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups (T: 70.4% vs NT: 59.3%, P = 0.152). The median number of adjunctive agents per patient, severe manifestations, and ICU and hospital length of stay did not differ between groups. Twenty-five patients (14.5%) had potentially significant drug interactions. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE The use of a PHB loading dose without a taper may be comparable to a taper strategy on clinical outcomes. Prospective studies are needed to further delineate the optimal dose of PHB for AWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Thaller
- Department of Pharmacy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adrian Wong
- Department of Pharmacy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tuyen Yankama
- Department of Pharmacy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ifeoma Mary Eche
- Department of Pharmacy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pansy Elsamadisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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To DC, Steel TL, Carey KA, Joyce CJ, Salisbury-Afshar EM, Edelson DP, Mayampurath A, Churpek MM, Afshar M. Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Measures for Identifying Patients Requiring High-Intensity Care. Crit Care Explor 2024; 6:e1066. [PMID: 38505174 PMCID: PMC10950191 DOI: 10.1097/cce.0000000000001066] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) may progress to require high-intensity care. Approaches to identify hospitalized patients with AWS who received higher level of care have not been previously examined. This study aimed to examine the utility of Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Revised (CIWA-Ar) for alcohol scale scores and medication doses for alcohol withdrawal management in identifying patients who received high-intensity care. DESIGN A multicenter observational cohort study of hospitalized adults with alcohol withdrawal. SETTING University of Chicago Medical Center and University of Wisconsin Hospital. PATIENTS Inpatient encounters between November 2008 and February 2022 with a CIWA-Ar score greater than 0 and benzodiazepine or barbiturate administered within the first 24 hours. The primary composite outcome was patients who progressed to high-intensity care (intermediate care or ICU). INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN RESULTS Among the 8742 patients included in the study, 37.5% (n = 3280) progressed to high-intensity care. The odds ratio for the composite outcome increased above 1.0 when the CIWA-Ar score was 24. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) at this threshold were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.11-0.13), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94-0.95), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.54-0.61), and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.63-0.65), respectively. The OR increased above 1.0 at a 24-hour lorazepam milligram equivalent dose cutoff of 15 mg. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV at this threshold were 0.16 (95% CI, 0.14-0.17), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.95-0.96), 0.68 (95% CI, 0.65-0.72), and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.64-0.66), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Neither CIWA-Ar scores nor medication dose cutoff points were effective measures for identifying patients with alcohol withdrawal who received high-intensity care. Research studies for examining outcomes in patients who deteriorate with AWS will require better methods for cohort identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C To
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Tessa L Steel
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Kyle A Carey
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Cara J Joyce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
| | | | - Dana P Edelson
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Anoop Mayampurath
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Matthew M Churpek
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Majid Afshar
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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13
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Xiao F, Ding X, Shi Y, Wang D, Wang Y, Cui C, Zhu T, Chen K, Xiang P, Luo X. Application of ensemble learning for predicting GABA A receptor agonists. Comput Biol Med 2024; 169:107958. [PMID: 38194778 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107958] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past few decades, agonists binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor have been successfully developed as clinical drugs. Different modulators (agonist, antagonist, and reverse agonist) bound to benzodiazepine sites exhibit different or even opposite pharmacological effects, however, their structures are so similar that it is difficult to distinguish them based solely on molecular skeleton. This study aims to develop classification models for predicting the agonists. METHODS 306 agonists or non-agonists were collected from literature. Six machine learning algorithms including RF, XGBoost, AdaBoost, GBoost, SVM, and ANN algorithms were employed for model development. Using six descriptors including 1D/2D Descriptors, ECFP4, 2D-Pharmacophore, MACCS, PubChem, and Estate fingerprint to characterize chemical structures. The model interpretability was explored by SHAP method. RESULTS The best model demonstrated an AUC value of 0.905 and an MCC value of 0.808 for the test set. The PubMac-based model (PubMac-GB) achieved best AUC values of 0.935 for test set. The SHAP analysis results emphasized that MaccsFP62, ECFP_624, ECFP_724, and PubchemFP213 were the crucial molecular features. Applicability domain analysis was also performed to determine reliable prediction boundaries for the model. The PubMac-GB model was applied to virtual screening for potential GABAA agonists and the top 100 compounds were given. CONCLUSION Overall, our ensemble learning-based model (PubMac-GB) achieved comparable performance and would be helpful in effectively identifying agonists of GABAA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Xiao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ding
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai, 200063, China
| | - Dingyan Wang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yitian Wang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chen Cui
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tingfei Zhu
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ping Xiang
- Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai, 200063, China.
| | - Xiaomin Luo
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
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14
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Green EW, Byers IS, Deutsch-Link S. Closing the Care Gap: Management of Alcohol Use Disorder in Patients with Alcohol-associated Liver Disease. Clin Ther 2023; 45:1189-1200. [PMID: 38052695 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.09.017] [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] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD)-related morbidity and mortality are rising in the United States. Although effective medications and behavioral interventions are available for the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), patients with ALD are profoundly undertreated for AUD. This article reviews the management of AUD in patients with ALD, with a focus on appropriate screening and diagnosis, management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, pharmacotherapy for AUD, alcohol biomarkers, and behavioral interventions. Expanding access to AUD treatment is imperative for improving health outcomes in patients with ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen W Green
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Isabelle S Byers
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sasha Deutsch-Link
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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15
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Steel TL, Bhatraju EP, Hills-Dunlap K. Critical care for patients with substance use disorders. Curr Opin Crit Care 2023; 29:484-492. [PMID: 37641506 DOI: 10.1097/mcc.0000000000001080] [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] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To examine the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on critical illness and the role of critical care providers in treating SUDs. We discuss emerging evidence supporting hospital-based addiction treatment and highlight the clinical and research innovations needed to elevate the standards of care for patients with SUDs in the intensive care unit (ICU) amidst staggering individual and public health consequences. RECENT FINDINGS Despite the rapid increase of SUDs in recent years, with growing implications for critical care, dedicated studies focused on ICU patients with SUDs remain scant. Available data demonstrate SUDs are major risk factors for the development and severity of critical illness and are associated with poor outcomes. ICU patients with SUDs experience mutually reinforcing effects of substance withdrawal and pain, which amplify risks and consequences of delirium, and complicate management of comorbid conditions. Hospital-based addiction treatment can dramatically improve the health outcomes of hospitalized patients with SUDs and should begin in the ICU. SUMMARY SUDs have a significant impact on critical illness and post-ICU outcomes. High-quality cohort and treatment studies designed specifically for ICU patients with SUDs are needed to define best practices and improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa L Steel
- Harborview Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
| | - Elenore P Bhatraju
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kelsey Hills-Dunlap
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Division of Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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16
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Muradian IK, Qureshi N, Singh J, Lin CH, Henderson SO. Risk factors for alcohol withdrawal-related hospital transfer in a correctional setting. Alcohol 2023; 111:33-37. [PMID: 37119833 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A major health concern among individuals with alcohol use disorder is alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), where individuals with physical dependence on alcohol may experience withdrawal signs and symptoms upon stopping or reducing alcohol use. AWS has a range of severity, with the most severe cases referred to as complicated AWS, presenting as seizure or signs and symptoms indicative of delirium or new onset of hallucinations. In the general community, risk factors or predictors of complicated AWS among hospitalized patients have been described, but there is no literature that examines such risk factors in a correctional population. The Los Angeles County Jail (LACJ) is the nation's largest jail system and manages 10-15 new patients per day for AWS. Here we aim to identify the risk factors associated with alcohol withdrawal-related hospital transfers among incarcerated patients being managed for AWS in the LACJ. METHODS From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, data were gathered about LACJ patients who required transfer to an acute care facility for alcohol withdrawal-related concerns while on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol revised (CIWA-Ar) protocol. Log regression analysis was performed to generate an odds ratio for acute care facility transfer for the following variables: race, sex assigned at birth, age, CIWA-Ar scores, highest systolic blood pressure (SBP), and highest heart rate (HR). RESULTS Out of 15,658 patients on CIWA-Ar protocol during this 2-year time frame, a total of 269 (1.7%) were transferred to an acute care facility for alcohol withdrawal-related concerns. Of those 269 patients, significant risk factors associated with withdrawal-related hospital transfer included: Other race (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.5), male sex assigned at birth (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5), age ≥55 years (OR 2.3, 95% 1.1-4.9), CIWA-Ar score 9-14 (OR 4.1, 95% CI 3.1-5.3), CIWA-Ar score ≥15 (OR 21.0, 95% CI 12.0-36.6), highest SBP ≥150 mmHg (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8-3.0), highest HR ≥ 110 bpm (OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.2-3.8). CONCLUSION Among patients studied, the higher CIWA-Ar score was the most significant risk factor associated with alcohol withdrawal-related hospital transfer. Other significant risk factors identified are race other than Hispanic, white, and African American; male sex assigned at birth; age ≥55 years; highest SBP ≥150 mmHg; and highest HR ≥ 110 bpm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim K Muradian
- Correctional Health Services, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Nazia Qureshi
- Correctional Health Services, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jimmy Singh
- Correctional Health Services, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cindy H Lin
- Correctional Health Services, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sean O Henderson
- Correctional Health Services, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA, United States
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17
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Guerra-Alejos BC, Kurz M, Min JE, Dale LM, Piske M, Bach P, Bruneau J, Gustafson P, Hu XJ, Kampman K, Korthuis PT, Loughin T, Maclure M, Platt RW, Siebert U, Socías ME, Wood E, Nosyk B. Comparative effectiveness of urine drug screening strategies alongside opioid agonist treatment in British Columbia, Canada: a population-based observational study protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e068729. [PMID: 37258082 PMCID: PMC10255039 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Urine drug tests (UDTs) are commonly used for monitoring opioid agonist treatment (OAT) responses, supporting the clinical decision for take-home doses and monitoring potential diversion. However, there is limited evidence supporting the utility of mandatory UDTs-particularly the impact of UDT frequency on OAT retention. Real-world evidence can inform patient-centred approaches to OAT and improve current strategies to address the ongoing opioid public health emergency. Our objective is to determine the safety and comparative effectiveness of alternative UDT monitoring strategies as observed in clinical practice among OAT clients in British Columbia, Canada from 2010 to 2020. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We propose a population-level retrospective cohort study of all individuals 18 years of age or older who initiated OAT from 1 January 2010 to 17 March 2020. The study will draw on eight linked health administrative databases from British Columbia. Our primary outcomes include OAT discontinuation and all-cause mortality. To determine the effectiveness of the intervention, we will emulate a 'per-protocol' target trial using a clone censoring approach to compare fixed and dynamic UDT monitoring strategies. A range of sensitivity analyses will be executed to determine the robustness of our results. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol, cohort creation and analysis plan have been classified and approved as a quality improvement initiative by Providence Health Care Research Ethics Board and the Simon Fraser University Office of Research Ethics. Results will be disseminated to local advocacy groups and decision-makers, national and international clinical guideline developers, presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals electronically and in print.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Carolina Guerra-Alejos
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan Kurz
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeong Eun Min
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laura M Dale
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Micah Piske
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paxton Bach
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julie Bruneau
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Gustafson
- Department of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - X Joan Hu
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kyle Kampman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - P Todd Korthuis
- School of Public Health, OHSU-PSU, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tom Loughin
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Malcolm Maclure
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert W Platt
- Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health and of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - U Siebert
- Center for Health Decision Science, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, Private University of Health Sciences Medical Informatics and Technology Hall/Tyrol Institute for Health Information Systems, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - M Eugenia Socías
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bohdan Nosyk
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Alexiou
- Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- London's Air Ambulance, Royal London Hospital, London
| | - Thomas King
- Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- London's Air Ambulance, Royal London Hospital, London
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19
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Moubayed D, Chadi N. An innovative inpatient protocol for alcohol withdrawal prevention in a 16-year-old adolescent: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2023; 17:179. [PMID: 37072794 PMCID: PMC10114332 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-03863-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol cessation in youth with daily drinking poses a risk of severe and life-threatening alcohol withdrawal. If unsupervised, alcohol withdrawal in heavy users can cause severe complications, such as seizures, delirium tremens, and death. We present the case of a teenager admitted at our pediatric center for the prevention of alcohol withdrawal using an innovative protocol, including a fixed-dosage benzodiazepine regimen. CASE DESCRIPTION A 16-year-old Caucasian male, known to have anxiety and an attention deficit disorder, was electively admitted for medical stabilization and surveillance of alcohol withdrawal. He had been previously diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and had a past history of withdrawal symptoms. He was prescribed a course of thiamine, folic acid, as well as a fixed-dosage benzodiazepine taper over 5 days. His withdrawal symptoms were evaluated using a standardized Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale. During his stay, he reported minimal symptoms, as well as a score on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale consistently lower than 5. His mood, motivation, eating habits and sleeping patterns significantly improved during his stay. He developed no medical complications and demonstrated pride in his successes. He was successfully transferred to a long-term rehabilitation center. CONCLUSIONS A withdrawal prevention protocol was developed on the basis of existing literature. It included a soothing environment, basic laboratory work evaluating the medical complications of alcohol use, as well as medication aiming to prevent and reduce potential withdrawal symptoms. The patient responded well to the fixed-dosage taper with minimal symptoms and discomfort. Although alcohol use in adolescents is frequent, alcohol withdrawal in this population is rarely seen in a pediatric hospital setting. Nonetheless, given the lack of existing guidelines regarding alcohol withdrawal in adolescents, standardized protocols could be greatly beneficial for the prevention of this condition in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Moubayed
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicholas Chadi
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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20
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Concerns About Hospital-based Managed Alcohol Programs. J Addict Med 2023; 17:129-130. [PMID: 36148989 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This case commentary involves a hospital-based managed alcohol program that uses a standardized protocol for administration of beverage alcohol (vodka or beer) in hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder in an urban hospital in Canada. Issues of concern include addressing alcohol use during hospitalization directly with motivational interviewing instead of permitting consumption of alcohol, dangers of beverage alcohol in hospitalized patients, and risk of worsening alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Ethical principles are also briefly addressed as they apply to managed alcohol programs.
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21
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Current and emerging therapies for alcohol-associated hepatitis. LIVER RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livres.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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22
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Dowling FG, Lowe SM. Substance use and related disorders among persons exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attacks: Essentials for screening and intervention. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2023; 78:261-266. [PMID: 36847147 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2023.2180614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of research supports the association between direct exposure to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, increased rates of alcohol and substance use and elevated risk of subsequent diagnosis with trauma-related and substance use disorders. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most diagnosed psychiatric illness in individuals who witnessed the 9/11 attacks or participated in disaster response efforts, and substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly comorbid with PTSD. The presence of both conditions poses challenges for clinical management and highlights the importance of screening and offering intervention to this at-risk population. This paper provides background on substance use, SUDs, and co-occurring PTSD in trauma exposed populations, describes best practices for identifying harmful substance use, the role of psychotherapy and medication for addiction treatment (MAT), and recommendations for management of co-occurring SUD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank G Dowling
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- World Trade Center Health Program, Stony Brook Clinical Center of Excellence, Commack, NY, USA
| | - Sandra M Lowe
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- World Trade Center Health Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY, USA
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23
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Umar Z, Haseeb Ul Rasool M, Muhammad S, Yousaf S, Nassar M, Ilyas U, Hosna AU, Parikh A, Bhangal R, Ahmed N, Ariyaratnam J, Trandafirescu T. Phenobarbital and Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2023; 15:e33695. [PMID: 36788902 PMCID: PMC9922035 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a complication frequently encountered among patients who are chronic alcohol abusers. It is considered to have a significant impact on the United States healthcare system. It not only has a toll on the healthcare spending but also contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Benzodiazepines are considered first line in the treatment of AWS. Since patients with alcohol use disorder have downregulated gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, this often leads to benzodiazepine resistance. Phenobarbital is also used in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Here we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of the drug. We conducted an electronic database search for relevant studies published between the inception of the project and November 20, 2022, in three databases, including Medline/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Our study included all original studies with prime focus on the baseline characteristics of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for alcohol withdrawal syndrome and management/monitoring protocol implemented for its treatment. The primary outcomes that were the focus of our study consisted of changes in the length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, and changes in scoring systems (for alcohol withdrawal assessment and monitoring) following the implementation of phenobarbital. The secondary outcomes included complications such as intubation and mortality. Based on our analysis, the mean difference in hospital stay was statistically significant at -2.6 (95% CI, -4.48, -0.72, P=0.007) for phenobarbital compared to the benzodiazepine group. We were unable to comment on the heterogeneity in our meta-analysis due to the standard deviation not being reported in one study. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the length of stay in the intensive care unit compared to the control/comparative arm, with a mean difference of -1.17 (95% CI, -1.17, 0.09, P=0.07), with considerable heterogeneity (I2=77%, P=0.002). Our meta-analysis also investigated the risk of intubation between the phenobarbital and the control/comparative group. There was statistically significant difference in the incidence of intubation, relative risk (RR) 0.52 (95% CI, 0.25, 1.08, P=0.08), with considerable heterogeneity (I2=80%, P=0.0001). Our study concludes that phenobarbital is an effective tool in the management of AWS in an ICU setting. However, various studies have reported contradictory results, and vital information appears to be lacking. Moreover, there is a lack of uniformity in terms of phenobarbital dosing. Drug administration should be adapted according to the severity of the symptoms. Further studies need to be conducted discussing the safety profile and adverse effects of the drug when it comes to the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaryab Umar
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | | | - Shoaib Muhammad
- Radiology, Salam Medical Complex, Lahore, PAK
- Urology, Gulab Devi Hospital, Al-Aleem Medical College, Lahore, PAK
| | - Sara Yousaf
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Unit, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dartford, GBR
| | - Mahmoud Nassar
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Usman Ilyas
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Asma U Hosna
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Avish Parikh
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Rubal Bhangal
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Nazaakat Ahmed
- Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Jonathan Ariyaratnam
- Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
| | - Theo Trandafirescu
- Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA
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24
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Seshadri A, Appelbaum R, Carmichael SP, Farrell MS, Filiberto DM, Jawa R, Kodadek L, Mandell S, Miles MVP, Paul J, Robinson B, Michetti CP. Prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in the surgical ICU: an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Critical Care Committee Clinical Consensus Document. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 2022; 7:e001010. [PMCID: PMC9680182 DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2022-001010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a common and challenging clinical entity present in trauma and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The screening tools, assessment strategies, and pharmacological methods for preventing alcohol withdrawal have significantly changed during the past 20 years. This Clinical Consensus Document created by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Critical Care Committee reviews the best practices for screening, monitoring, and prophylactic treatment of alcohol withdrawal in the surgical ICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupamaa Seshadri
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel Appelbaum
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Samuel P Carmichael
- Department of Surgery, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Dina M Filiberto
- Department of Surgery, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Randeep Jawa
- Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Lisa Kodadek
- Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,Department of Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Samuel Mandell
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - M Victoria P Miles
- College of Medicine Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jasmeet Paul
- Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Bryce Robinson
- Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Barenie RE, Cernasev A, Jasmin H, Knight P, Chisholm-Burns M. A Qualitative Systematic Review of Access to Substance Use Disorder Care in the United States Criminal Justice System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12647. [PMID: 36231947 PMCID: PMC9566712 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) in the United States do not receive evidence-based treatment. Research has also demonstrated challenges to accessing SUD care in the US criminal justice system. We conducted a systematic review of access to SUD care in the US criminal justice system. METHODS We searched for comprehensive qualitative studies in multiple databases through April 2021, and two researchers reviewed 6858 studies using pre-selected inclusion criteria. Once eligibility was determined, themes were extracted from the data. This review provides a thematic overview of the US qualitative studies to inform future research-based interventions. This review was conducted in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). RESULTS There were 6858 unique abstract results identified for review, and seven qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Two themes were identified from these results: (1) managing withdrawal from medication-assisted treatment, and (2) facilitators and barriers to treatment programs in the criminal justice system. CONCLUSIONS Qualitative research evaluating access to SUD care in the US criminal justice system varied, with some interventions reported not rooted in evidence-based medicine. An opportunity may exist to develop best practices to ensure evidence-based treatment for SUDs is delivered to patients who need it in the US criminal justice system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E. Barenie
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Nashville, TN 37211, USA
| | - Alina Cernasev
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Nashville, TN 37211, USA
| | - Hilary Jasmin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, Health Sciences Library, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Phillip Knight
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Nashville, TN 37211, USA
| | - Marie Chisholm-Burns
- School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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Bahji A, Bach P, Danilewitz M, Crockford D, el-Guebaly N, Devoe DJ, Saitz R. Comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapies for alcohol withdrawal: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Addiction 2022; 117:2591-2601. [PMID: 35194860 PMCID: PMC9969997 DOI: 10.1111/add.15853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS There have been few head-to-head clinical trials of pharmacotherapies for alcohol withdrawal (AW). We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the comparative performance of pharmacotherapies for AW. METHODS Six databases were searched for randomized clinical trials through November 2021. Trials were included after a blinded review by two independent reviewers. Outcomes included incident seizures, delirium tremens, AW severity scores, adverse events, dropouts, dropouts from adverse events, length of hospital stay, use of additional medications, total benzodiazepine requirements, and death. Effect sizes were pooled using frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis models to generate summary ORs and Cohen's d standardized mean differences (SMDs). RESULTS Across the 149 trials, there were 10 692 participants (76% male, median 43.5 years old). AW severity spanned mild (n = 32), moderate (n = 51), and severe (n = 66). Fixed-schedule chlormethiazole (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.65), fixed-schedule diazepam (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.59), fixed-schedule lorazepam (OR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08-0.45), fixed-schedule chlordiazepoxide (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.53), and divalproex (OR = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05-0.86) were superior to placebo at reducing incident AW seizures. However, only fixed-schedule diazepam (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05-0.76) reduced incident delirium tremens. Oxcarbazepine (d = -3.69; 95% CI, -6.21 to -1.17), carbamazepine (d = -2.76; 95% CI, -4.13 to -1.40), fixed-schedule oxazepam (d = -2.55; 95% CI, -4.26 to -0.83), and γ-hydroxybutyrate (d = -1.80; 95% CI, -3.35 to -0.26) improved endpoint Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised scores over placebo. Promazine and carbamazepine were the only agents significantly associated with greater dropouts because of adverse events. The quality of evidence was downgraded because of the substantial risk of bias, heterogeneity, inconsistency, and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS Although some pharmacotherapeutic modalities, particularly benzodiazepines, appear to be safe and efficacious for reducing some measures of alcohol withdrawal, methodological issues and a high risk of bias prevent a consistent estimate of their comparative performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anees Bahji
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paxton Bach
- British Columbia Centre for Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marlon Danilewitz
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David Crockford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nady el-Guebaly
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Daniel J. Devoe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Richard Saitz
- Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Clinical Translational Science Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
Unhealthy alcohol use-the consumption of alcohol at a level that has caused or has the potential to cause adverse physical, psychological, or social consequences-is common, underrecognized, and undertreated. For example, data from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that 7.0% of adults reported heavy alcohol use in the previous month, and only 4.2% of adults with alcohol use disorder received treatment. Primary care is an important setting for optimizing screening and treatment of unhealthy alcohol use to promote individual and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Donroe
- Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (J.H.D.)
| | - E Jennifer Edelman
- Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut (E.J.E.)
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Pawar RD, Balaji L, Grossestreuer AV, Thompson G, Holmberg MJ, Issa MS, Patel PV, Kronen R, Berg KM, Moskowitz A, Donnino MW. Thiamine Supplementation in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder Presenting With Acute Critical Illness : A Nationwide Retrospective Observational Study. Ann Intern Med 2022; 175:191-197. [PMID: 34871057 PMCID: PMC9169677 DOI: 10.7326/m21-2103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thiamine supplementation is recommended for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The authors hypothesize that critically ill patients with AUD are commonly not given thiamine supplementation. OBJECTIVE To describe thiamine supplementation incidence in patients with AUD and various critical illnesses (alcohol withdrawal, septic shock, traumatic brain injury [TBI], and diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA]) in the United States. DESIGN Retrospective observational study. SETTING Cerner Health Facts database. PATIENTS Adult patients with a diagnosis of AUD who were admitted to the intensive care unit with alcohol withdrawal, septic shock, TBI, or DKA between 2010 and 2017. MEASUREMENTS Incidence and predicted probability of thiamine supplementation in alcohol withdrawal and other critical illnesses. RESULTS The study included 14 998 patients with AUD. Mean age was 52.2 years, 77% of participants were male, and in-hospital mortality was 9%. Overall, 7689 patients (51%) received thiamine supplementation. The incidence of thiamine supplementation was 59% for alcohol withdrawal, 26% for septic shock, 41% for TBI, and 24% for DKA. Most of those receiving thiamine (n = 3957 [52%]) received it within 12 hours of presentation in the emergency department. The predominant route of thiamine administration was enteral (n = 3119 [41%]). LIMITATION Specific dosing and duration were not completely captured. CONCLUSION Thiamine supplementation was not provided to almost half of all patients with AUD, raising a quality-of-care issue for this cohort. Supplementation was numerically less frequent in patients with septic shock, DKA, or TBI than in those with alcohol withdrawal. These data will be important for the design of quality improvement studies in critically ill patients with AUD. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul D Pawar
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Center for Resuscitation Science, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (R.D.P.)
| | - Lakshman Balaji
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (L.B., A.V.G., G.T., P.V.P.)
| | - Anne V Grossestreuer
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (L.B., A.V.G., G.T., P.V.P.)
| | - Garrett Thompson
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (L.B., A.V.G., G.T., P.V.P.)
| | - Mathias J Holmberg
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, and Research Center for Emergency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, and Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark (M.J.H.)
| | - Mahmoud S Issa
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (M.S.I.)
| | - Parth V Patel
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (L.B., A.V.G., G.T., P.V.P.)
| | - Ryan Kronen
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (R.K.)
| | - Katherine M Berg
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (K.M.B.)
| | - Ari Moskowitz
- Center for Resuscitation Science and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, and Division of Critical Care Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (A.M.)
| | - Michael W Donnino
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Emergency Medicine, and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (M.W.D.)
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Smith JT, Sage M, Szeto H, Myers LC, Lu Y, Martinez A, Kipnis P, Liu VX. Outcomes After Implementation of a Benzodiazepine-Sparing Alcohol Withdrawal Order Set in an Integrated Health Care System. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e220158. [PMID: 35191968 PMCID: PMC8864512 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a common inpatient diagnosis managed primarily with benzodiazepines. Concerns about the adverse effects associated with benzodiazepines have spurred interest in using benzodiazepine-sparing treatments. Objective To evaluate changes in outcomes after implementation of a benzodiazepine-sparing AWS inpatient order set that included adjunctive therapies (eg, gabapentin, valproic acid, clonidine, and dexmedetomidine). Design, Setting, and Participants This difference-in-differences quality improvement study was conducted among 22 899 AWS adult hospitalizations from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2019, in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health care delivery system. Data were analyzed from September 2020 through November 2021. Exposures Implementation of the benzodiazepine-sparing AWS order set on October 1, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Adjusted rate ratios for medication use, inpatient mortality, length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and nonelective readmission within 30 days were calculated comparing postimplementation and preimplementation periods among hospitals with and without order set use. Results Among 904 540 hospitalizations in the integrated health care delivery system during the study period, AWS was present in 22 899 hospitalizations (2.5%), occurring among 16 323 unique patients (mean [SD] age, 57.1 [14.8] years; 15 764 [68.8%] men). Of these hospitalizations, 12 889 (56.3%) used an order set for alcohol withdrawal. Among hospitalizations with order set use, any benzodiazepine use decreased after implementation from 6431 hospitalizations (78.1%) to 2823 hospitalizations (60.7%) (P < .001), with concomitant decreases in the mean (SD) total dosage of lorazepam before vs after implementation (19.7 [38.3] mg vs 6.0 [9.1] mg; P < .001). There were also significant changes from before to after implementation in the use of adjunctive medications, including gabapentin (2413 hospitalizations [29.3%] vs 2814 hospitalizations [60.5%]; P < .001), clonidine (1476 hospitalizations [17.9%] vs 2208 hospitalizations [47.5%]; P < .001), thiamine (6298 hospitalizations [76.5%] vs 4047 hospitalizations [87.0%]; P < .001), valproic acid (109 hospitalizations [1.3%] vs 256 hospitalizations [5.5%]; P < .001), and phenobarbital (412 hospitalizations [5.0%] vs 292 hospitalizations [6.3%]; P = .003). Compared with AWS hospitalizations without order set use, use of the benzodiazepine-sparing order set was associated with decreases in intensive care unit use (adjusted rate ratio [ARR], 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.89; P = .003) and hospital length of stay (ARR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.58-0.86; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that implementation of a benzodiazepine-sparing AWS order set was associated with decreased use of benzodiazepines and favorable trends in outcomes. These findings suggest that further prospective research is needed to identify the most effective treatments regimens for patients hospitalized with alcohol withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T. Smith
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Mary Sage
- Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service, Walnut Creek Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Walnut Creek
| | - Herb Szeto
- Hospital Based Specialist Service, Redwood City Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Redwood City
| | - Laura C. Myers
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Yun Lu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Patricia Kipnis
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Vincent X. Liu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
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Vigouroux A, Garret C, Lascarrou JB, Martin M, Miailhe AF, Lemarié J, Dupeyrat J, Zambon O, Seguin A, Reignier J, Canet E. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome in ICU patients: Clinical features, management, and outcome predictors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261443. [PMID: 34928984 PMCID: PMC8687554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a common condition in hospitalized patients, yet its epidemiology in the ICU remains poorly characterized. Methods Retrospective cohort of patients admitted to the Nantes University Hospital ICU between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, and coded for AWS using ICD-10 criteria. The objective of the study was to identify factors associated with complicated hospital stay defined as ICU length of stay ≥7 days or hospital mortality. Results Among 5,641 patients admitted to the ICU during the study period, 246 (4.4%) were coded as having AWS. Among them, 42 had exclusion criteria and 204 were included in the study. The three main reasons for ICU admission were sepsis (29.9%), altered consciousness (29.4%), and seizures (24%). At ICU admission, median Cushman’s score was 6 [4–9] and median SOFA score was 3 [2–6]. Delirium tremens occurred in half the patients, seizures in one fifth and pneumonia in one third. Overall, 48% of patients developed complicated hospital stay, of whom 92.8% stayed in the ICU for ≥7 days, 36.7% received MV for ≥7 days, and 16.3% died during hospital stay. By multivariable analysis, two factors were associated with complicated hospital stay: a higher number of organ dysfunctions at ICU admission was associated with a higher risk of complicated hospital stay (OR, 1.18; 95CI, 1.05–1.32, P = 0.005), whereas ICU admission for seizures was associated with a lower risk of complicated hospital stay (OR, 0.14; 95%CI, 0.026–0.80; P = 0.026). Conclusions AWS in ICU patients chiefly affects young adults and is often associated with additional factors such as sepsis, trauma, or surgery. Half the patients experienced an extended ICU stay or death during the hospital stay. The likelihood of developing complicated hospital stay relied on the reason for ICU admission and the number of organ dysfunctions at ICU admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliénor Vigouroux
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Charlotte Garret
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Lascarrou
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Maëlle Martin
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Arnaud-Félix Miailhe
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jérémie Lemarié
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Julien Dupeyrat
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Olivier Zambon
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Amélie Seguin
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jean Reignier
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Emmanuel Canet
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- * E-mail:
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DeFries T, Leyde S, Haber LA, Martin M. Things We Do for No Reason™: Prescribing Thiamine, Folate and Multivitamins on Discharge for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder. J Hosp Med 2021; 16:751-753. [PMID: 34730500 DOI: 10.12788/jhm.3691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Triveni DeFries
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Sarah Leyde
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lawrence A Haber
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Marlene Martin
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Ertl V, Groß M, Mwaka SO, Neuner F. Treating alcohol use disorder in the absence of specialized services - evaluation of the moving inpatient Treatment Camp approach in Uganda. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:601. [PMID: 34852824 PMCID: PMC8638348 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03593-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gap between service need and service provision for alcohol-related disorders is highest in resource-poor countries. However, in some of these contexts, local initiatives have developed pragmatic interventions that can be carried out with limited specialized personnel. In an uncontrolled treatment study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, safety, costs and potential effects of an innovative locally developed community-based program (the Treatment Camp) that is based on an inpatient clinic that moves from community to community. METHODS Out of 32 treatment-seeking individuals 25 took part in the one-week Treatment Camp that included detoxification and counseling components. Re-assessments took place 5 and 12 months after their participation. We explored the course of a wide range of alcohol-related indicators, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as primary outcome complemented by a timeline follow-back approach and the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale. Additionally, we assessed impaired functioning, alcohol-related stigmatization, symptoms of common mental health disorders and indicators of family functioning as reported by participants' wives and children. RESULTS All alcohol-related measures decreased significantly after the Treatment Camp and remained stable up to the 12-month-assessment with high effect sizes ranging from 0.89 to 3.49 (Hedges's g). Although 92% of the participants had lapsed at least once during the follow-up period, 67% classified below the usually applied AUDIT cutoff for hazardous drinking (≥ 8) and no one qualified for the dependent range (≥ 20) one year after treatment. Most secondary outcomes including impaired functioning, alcohol-related stigmatization, symptoms of depression and indicators of family functioning followed the same trajectory. CONCLUSIONS We found the Treatment Camp approach to be acceptable, feasible, safe and affordable (approx. 111 USD/patient) and we could obtain preliminary evidence of its efficacy. Due to its creative combination of inpatient treatment and monitoring by medical personnel with local mobility, the Treatment Camp appears to be more accessible and inclusive than other promising interventions for alcohol dependent individuals in resource-poor contexts. Effects of the approach seem to extend to interactions within families, including a reduction of dysfunctional and violent interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Ertl
- Clinical Psychology and Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 25, 85072, Eichstätt, Germany.
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Melissa Groß
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Samuel Okidi Mwaka
- Program for Prevention, Awareness, Counseling and Treatment of Alcoholism (PACTA; www.pactaguluganda.org.ug), Plot 1 Burcoro Road, Wiaworanga, Gulu, Uganda
| | - Frank Neuner
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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Steel TL, Afshar M, Edwards S, Jolley SE, Timko C, Clark BJ, Douglas IS, Dzierba AL, Gershengorn HB, Gilpin NW, Godwin DW, Hough CL, Maldonado JR, Mehta AB, Nelson LS, Patel MB, Rastegar DA, Stollings JL, Tabakoff B, Tate JA, Wong A, Burnham EL. Research Needs for Inpatient Management of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 204:e61-e87. [PMID: 34609257 PMCID: PMC8528516 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202108-1845st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (SAWS) is highly morbid, costly, and common among hospitalized patients, yet minimal evidence exists to guide inpatient management. Research needs in this field are broad, spanning the translational science spectrum. Goals: This research statement aims to describe what is known about SAWS, identify knowledge gaps, and offer recommendations for research in each domain of the Institute of Medicine T0-T4 continuum to advance the care of hospitalized patients who experience SAWS. Methods: Clinicians and researchers with unique and complementary expertise in basic, clinical, and implementation research related to unhealthy alcohol consumption and alcohol withdrawal were invited to participate in a workshop at the American Thoracic Society 2019 International Conference. The committee was subdivided into four groups on the basis of interest and expertise: T0-T1 (basic science research with translation to humans), T2 (research translating to patients), T3 (research translating to clinical practice), and T4 (research translating to communities). A medical librarian conducted a pragmatic literature search to facilitate this work, and committee members reviewed and supplemented the resulting evidence, identifying key knowledge gaps. Results: The committee identified several investigative opportunities to advance the care of patients with SAWS in each domain of the translational science spectrum. Major themes included 1) the need to investigate non-γ-aminobutyric acid pathways for alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment; 2) harnessing retrospective and electronic health record data to identify risk factors and create objective severity scoring systems, particularly for acutely ill patients with SAWS; 3) the need for more robust comparative-effectiveness data to identify optimal SAWS treatment strategies; and 4) recommendations to accelerate implementation of effective treatments into practice. Conclusions: The dearth of evidence supporting management decisions for hospitalized patients with SAWS, many of whom require critical care, represents both a call to action and an opportunity for the American Thoracic Society and larger scientific communities to improve care for a vulnerable patient population. This report highlights basic, clinical, and implementation research that diverse experts agree will have the greatest impact on improving care for hospitalized patients with SAWS.
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Anderson ES, Chamberlin M, Zuluaga M, Ullal M, Hawk K, McCormack R, D'Onofrio G, Herring AA. Implementation of Oral and Extended-Release Naltrexone for the Treatment of Emergency Department Patients With Moderate to Severe Alcohol Use Disorder: Feasibility and Initial Outcomes. Ann Emerg Med 2021; 78:752-758. [PMID: 34353648 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Despite evidence supporting naltrexone as an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder, its use in emergency department (ED) patients has not been described. We implemented a protocol that combined substance use navigation with either oral naltrexone or extended-release intramuscular naltrexone for patients with alcohol use disorder as a strategy to improve follow-up in addiction treatment after ED discharge. METHODS In this descriptive study, we analyzed the results from adult patients discharged from the ED with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who received either oral naltrexone or extended-release intramuscular naltrexone between May 1, 2020, and October 31, 2020, and assessed their engagement in formal addiction treatment within 30 days after discharge from the ED. RESULTS Among 59 patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who accepted naltrexone treatment, 41 received oral naltrexone and 18 received extended-release intramuscular naltrexone. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 45.2 (13.4) years; 22 patients (37.3%) were Latinx, 18 (30.5%) were Black, and 16 (27.1%) were White. Among all patients, 9 (15.3%) attended follow-up formal addiction treatment within 30 days after discharge; 5 patients (27.8%) who received extended-release intramuscular naltrexone and 4 patients (9.8%) who received oral naltrexone attended follow-up treatment within 30 days. CONCLUSION We implemented a clinical protocol for ED patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder using oral naltrexone and extended-release intramuscular naltrexone together with substance use navigation. Identification of alcohol use disorder, a brief intervention, and initiation of naltrexone resulted in a 15% follow-up rate in formal addiction treatment. Future work should prospectively examine the effectiveness of naltrexone as well as the effect of substance use navigation for ED patients with alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik S Anderson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA; Department of Medicine, Substance Use Disorder Program, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA.
| | - Mac Chamberlin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA
| | - Marisa Zuluaga
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA
| | - Monish Ullal
- Department of Medicine, Substance Use Disorder Program, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA; Division of Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA
| | - Kathryn Hawk
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Ryan McCormack
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Gail D'Onofrio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Andrew A Herring
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA; Department of Medicine, Substance Use Disorder Program, Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Implementation of a Phenobarbital-based Pathway for Severe Alcohol Withdrawal: A Mixed-Methods Study. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021; 18:1708-1716. [PMID: 33945771 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202102-121oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Several institutions have implemented phenobarbital-based pathways for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. However, little is known about the care processes, effectiveness, and safety of phenobarbital-based pathways for intensive care unit patients. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine clinician acceptability and feasibility and patient outcomes after the implementation of a phenobarbital-based pathway for medical intensive care unit patients with severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome. METHODS We conducted a mixed methods study of a quality improvement intervention designed to improve workflow without deleterious effects on outcomes. We used semi-structured qualitative interviews and surveys of clinicians to assess acceptability and feasibility of the phenobarbital-based pathway and a previous benzodiazepine-based pathway. We used a non-inferiority interrupted-time-series analysis to compare mechanical ventilation rates before and after implementation among medical intensive care unit patients within an urban safety net hospital admitted with severe alcohol withdrawal. We explored several secondary outcomes including physical-restraint use and hospital length of stay. RESULTS Four themes related to clinician acceptability and feasibility of the phenobarbital-based pathway emerged: [1] designing a pathway that balanced standardization with clinical judgement promoted acceptability; [2] pathway simplicity promoted feasibility; [3] implementing pathway-driven care streamlined workflow; [4] ad hoc implementation strategies facilitated new pathway uptake. 233 and 252 patients were initiated on the benzodiazepine- and phenobarbital-based pathways, respectively. The rate of mechanical ventilation decreased from 17.1% to 12.9% after implementation of the phenobarbital-based pathway, with an adjusted mean difference of -4.9% (95% upper CI 0.7%) corresponding to a 95% upper limit relative change of 4%, below the a priori non-inferiority margin. Use of physical restraints decreased from 51.6% to 32.4% (mean difference -18.0%, 95% CI -26.4%, -9.7%) and hospital length of stay was shorter (8.6 days to 6.8 days; mean difference -1.8 days, 95% CI -3.4, -0.2 days) after implementation. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians felt that the phenobarbital-based pathway was more efficient and simpler to use, and patient mechanical ventilation rates were non-inferior compared to the previous benzodiazepine-based pathway for the treatment of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
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Murphy JA, Curran BM, Gibbons WA, Harnica HM. Adjunctive Phenobarbital for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Focused Literature Review. Ann Pharmacother 2021; 55:1515-1524. [PMID: 33678057 DOI: 10.1177/1060028021999821] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the literature describing the use of adjunctive phenobarbital in the treatment of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). DATA SOURCES PubMed and EMBASE were searched using the following terms: phenobarbital, adjunct, refractory or treatment resistant, severe or complicated, and alcohol withdrawal delirium or alcohol withdrawal seizures. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION The search was limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies published in English. DATA SYNTHESIS Seven studies were identified in the emergency department (ED; RCT, n = 1; cohort, n = 2), general medicine ward (cohort, n = 1), and intensive care unit (ICU; cohort, n = 3) settings. For all studies set in the ED and general medicine ward and for 1 ICU study, phenobarbital plus symptom-guided benzodiazepine therapy was compared to symptom-guided benzodiazepine monotherapy. The other 2 ICU studies examined adjunctive phenobarbital before and after implementation of a protocol, meaning patients in both arms could have received phenobarbital. Overall risk of bias across all studies was low to moderate. RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE The specific role of adjunctive phenobarbital in AWS is not clear because a majority of studies are retrospective cohorts with varying primary outcomes in different patient care settings. CONCLUSIONS In the ED and general medicine ward, phenobarbital demonstrated benzodiazepine-sparing effects. In the ICU, when a protocol guides phenobarbital use, the need for mechanical ventilation may be reduced. Adjunctive phenobarbital was well tolerated. Because of study limitations, it is challenging to provide specific recommendations for adjunctive phenobarbital use in severe AWS.
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Clergue-Duval V, Sivapalan R, Hispard E, Azuar J, Bellivier F, Bloch V, Vorspan F, Naccache F, Questel F. BNP worsens 12 days after alcohol cessation while other cardiovascular risk biomarkers improve: An observational study. Alcohol 2021; 90:39-43. [PMID: 33290809 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.11.003] [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: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Subjects with alcohol use disorder (AUD) display a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs), and a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases associated with an earlier mortality. Abstinence has long-term cardiovascular and global health benefits. However, few studies have examined the short-term effect of alcohol cessation on cardiac function and key CRFs. The aim of the study was to assess brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and other CRFs on admission for alcohol cessation and 12 days later, in inpatients with AUD. A retrospective chart review of inpatients hospitalized for alcohol cessation was conducted. Patients who did not relapse at day 12 were included. We compared, at entry and at day 12, BNP and other CRFs: hemodynamic and electromyographic variables, lipid, homocysteine level, and liver enzymes at entry and at day 12. Wilcoxon, Student tests, and repeated-measures ANOVA were conducted. Fifty-five patients were included (38 males, mean age 50.5 years, alcohol per day 60 g-750 g, 44 current tobacco smokers). BNP was significantly increased (11.8 pg/mL [±16.2] to 35.5 pg/mL [±47.6], p < 0.001). Repeated-measure ANOVA showed a significant between-subject effect (p = 0.024), but no significant interaction between BNP variation and having a BNP at entry >10 pg/mL (p = 0.092). In contrast, a significant improvement on 8 of 13 other CRFs and liver enzymes measures was observed (p ≤ 0.05). A rapid improvement of several CRFs was confirmed. However, the increase of BNP at day 12 supports its investigation as a possible relevant biomarker of cardiac function in alcohol withdrawal.
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Brothers TD, Bach P. Challenges in Prediction and Diagnosis of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome and Wernicke Encephalopathy-Reply. JAMA Intern Med 2020; 180:1716-1717. [PMID: 32897304 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.3561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Brothers
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Paxton Bach
- Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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