The association of injury with substance use disorder among women of reproductive age: an opportunity to address a major contributor to recurrent preventable emergency department visits?

Emergency department encounters and opioid prescribing following orthopaedic trauma among Black and White patients with substance use disorders

INTRODUCTION

Patients living with substance use disorder (SUD) have complex pain management needs, which may be mismanaged during hospital admission. Ineffectively managed pain following orthopaedic trauma, influenced by clinician biases related to race or SUD diagnosis, may subject patients to worse pain outcomes and subsequent emergency department (ED) encounters. This study examined ED encounters and opioid prescribing for pain-related complaints following orthopaedic trauma, among patients with SUD who identify as Black or African American relative to White patients.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 1089 patients with a SUD diagnosis discharged from a Level I trauma center, following hospitalization for orthopaedic injuries, between 2016 and 2021. Multivariable regressions assessed the associations among race, opioid prescribing, and ED encounters within 90 days for pain-related care.

RESULTS

Among the 1089 patients included in the sample, the proportion of individuals with an ED encounter within 90 days for pain-related care was 12.4 % and 4.5 % for Black and White patients, respectively (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0, p < .001). When adjusting for injury severity and demographics, the difference in ED encounters between Black and White patients remained significant (OR = 2.8, p = .002). Opioid prescription doses did not statistically differ by race.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in ED encounters between Black and White patients with SUDs following orthopaedic trauma may indicate a need to optimize pain management prior to initial discharge and improve post-injury care.

Prevalence, incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years of drug use disorders for 204 countries and territories during the past 30 years

Drug use disorders are increasingly recognized as the main cause of public health issues worldwide. The current analysis aims to provide the most comprehensive, updated estimates of the burden from drug use disorders at global, regional, and national levels during the past three decades. Prevalence, incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 by age and sex for drug use disorder as well as its four main categories (opioid use disorders, cocaine use disorders, amphetamine use disorders, and cannabis use disorders) in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019. DisMod-MR 2.1, and Bayesian meta-regression were used to analyze prevalence and incidence, while the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) was used to estimate death of diseases. Globally, the burden of drug use disorders, as measured by the average annual percentage change (AAPC) of deaths and DALYs, continues to increase. The patterns by regions of DALYs due to drug use disorders varied significantly, and it is mainly in developed countries and concentrated among young people and males. Programs for drug use disorders management should be improved, particularly in opioid use disorders. Governments will face increasing demand for treatment and support services, and effective prevention as well as control strategies are required to reduce the burden from these causes.

Practice Considerations for the Methamphetamine Use Disorder Patient

Methamphetamine substance use disorders (SUD) are a topic of increasing concern in the United States or America and continue to impact families and communities throughout the United States. Methamphetamine users account for approximately 1.6 million individuals. It is important for health care providers to be aware of the potential lethal impacts of restraining aggressive individuals. It is equally important to understand the impacts of increased circulating catecholamines or subsequent dearth after methamphetamine use and how medications may impact either state. Methamphetamine SUD patients can pose challenges to health care workers, however, safe and effective care is obtainable.

Mechanism of penetrating injury mediates the risk of long-term adverse outcomes for survivors of violent trauma

BACKGROUND

While hospital-based violence intervention programs are primarily designed to aid youth victims of gun violence at high risk for reinjury, the root causes and complex outcomes of community violence are varied. In this study, we examined the risk factors for violent penetrating injury and how the risk of adverse outcomes for survivors differs by injury type (stabbing vs. gunshot wound).

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed using a cohort of patients presenting to the Boston Medical Center emergency department for a penetrating injury due to community violence between 2006 and 2016. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the risk of all-cause mortality and violent reinjury within 3 years after surviving a penetrating injury.

RESULTS

Of the 4,280 survivors of the initial violent penetrating injury, there were 88 deaths (2.1%) and 568 violent reinjuries (13.3%) within 3 years. Compared with gunshot wound victims, stab wound victims were 31% less likely to be reinjured with a gunshot wound (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.93), 72% more likely to be reinjured with a stab wound (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21-2.43), and 49% more likely to be reinjured by assault (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.14-1.94). While survivors of stabbing and firearm injuries were equally at risk for 3-year all-cause mortality, stab wound victims were 3.75 times more likely to die by a drug/alcohol overdose (HR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.11-20.65).

CONCLUSION

Patients surviving a stab wound have a significantly higher risk of violent reinjury by stabbing or assault, and risk of death by drug/alcohol overdose. Hospital-based violence intervention programs with similar patient populations should explore options to expand partnerships with drug treatment programs. These results illustrate two distinct populations of victims of violence-gunshot victims and stabbing/assault victims-with separate risk factors and outcomes, mediated by substance use disorder.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiologic; level III.

Predictors of Medication-Related Emergency Department Admissions Among Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South-Western Uganda

BACKGROUND

Medication-related emergency department admissions impose a huge and unnecessary burden on the healthcare system. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of medication-related emergency department admissions, among patients with cardiovascular diseases at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.

METHODS

Institutional research ethics approval was secured to conduct a cross-sectional study at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital emergency department, between February and September, 2020. All eligible and consenting patients were enrolled in a consecutive manner after a preliminary diagnosis was made by the attending physician. Structured questionnaire interview and comprehensive medication history reviews were used to identify medication therapy problems, in collaboration with a resident physician present on duty. We used sequential categorization for medication therapy problem(s). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to determine prevalence and predictors of medication-related emergency department admissions.

RESULTS

Out of the 128 patients interviewed, 105 (82%) patient admissions were associated with a medication therapy problem: ineffectiveness of drug therapy (53.3%, 56), medication non-adherence (42.9%, 45), and adverse drug reactions (3.8%, 4). Out of a total of 90 incidences of medication non-adherence, 34.4% (31/90) were due to lack of understanding of patient medication regimen, and 27.8% (25/90) due to unaffordable cost of medicines. Female gender (AOR = 4.31 [1.43, 13.03 at 95% CI]; P-value = 0.010]) and a history of tobacco use (AOR = 9.58 [1.14, 80.28 at 95% CI]; P-value = 0.037) were statistically significant predictors of medication-related emergency department admissions in adjusted analysis.

CONCLUSION

Four in five emergency department admissions were associated with medication-related causes, majorly due to ineffectiveness of drug therapy. Knowledge gap on patient medication regimens was the most prevalent cause for medication non-adherence. Female gender and previous or current tobacco use was an independent risk factor for medication-related admissions.

Within- and between-person associations with drug use disorder among adolescents and emerging adults presenting to an urban emergency department

BACKGROUND

The distinction between within- and between-person associations with drug use disorder (DUD) has implications for intervention targets and content. We used longitudinal data from youth entering an urban emergency department (ED) to identify factors related to changes in DUD diagnosis, with particular emphasis on alcohol use.

METHODS

Research staff recruited youth age 14-24 (n = 599) reporting any past six-month drug use from a Level-1 ED; participants were assessed at baseline and four biannual follow-ups. Participants self-reported validated measurements of peer/parental behaviors, violence/crime exposure, drug use self-efficacy, and alcohol use. Research staff performed diagnostic interviews for DUD with nine substances, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). We used repeated measures logistic regression models with person-level covariate means, and person-mean-centered covariates, as separate variables, to separate within- and between-person covariate effects.

RESULTS

Among 2,630 assessments, 1,128 (42.9 %) were DUD diagnoses; 21.7 % were co-diagnoses with multiple drugs. Positive (aOR = 0.81, 95 %CI:[0.70, 0.94]) and negative (aOR = 1.73, 95 %CI:[1.45, 2.07]) peer behaviors related to DUD, primarily through between-person effects. Parental support (aOR = 0.92, 95 %CI:[0.83, 0.99]), community violence/crime (aOR = 1.28, 95 %CI:[1.14, 1.44]), PTSD/MDD diagnosis (aOR = 1.36, 95 %CI:[1.04, 1.79]), and alcohol use quantity (aOR = 1.06, 95 %CI:[1.02, 1.11]) were associated with DUD, showing primarily within-person effects. Other factors, such as interpersonal violence involvement (aOR = 1.47, 95 %CI:[1.21, 1.78]), showed both within- and between-person effects.

CONCLUSIONS

DUD is prevalent in this population, and within-person changes in DUD are predictable. Within-person effects suggest the importance of addressing escalating alcohol use, enhancing parental support, crime/violence exposure, and other mental health diagnoses as part of DUD intervention.

The Effect of High-Intensity Interval/Circuit Training on Cognitive Functioning and Quality of Life During Recovery From Substance Abuse Disorder. A Study Protocol

This proposed study will examine whether structured physical activity reduces the recovery time of cognitive functioning during the early phase of substance use disorder treatment. Addiction or substance dependence is associated with neurobiological changes and cognitive impairment that can affect quality of life and the efficacy of therapy for up to a year after clinical detoxification. The biological, psychological, and social effects of physical exercise have the potential to be a therapeutic approach to increase quality of life and relieve symptoms associated with substance abuse, such as psychosis, depression, and anxiety. There is a dearth of research on physical activity and exercise in clinical substance use disorder patients. This protocol describes a clinical study that will examine cognitive recovery after substance abuse using physical exercise as a treatment intervention. We will use a quasi-experimental longitudinal clinical trial, with a pretest and multiple posttests, on naturally randomized sequential groups. Patients will be consecutively be recruited into the study groups, with a control group that is completed, before its followed by an intervention group, each with 30 patients. Patients will be enrolled 2 weeks after the start of detoxification, at which time all subjects will be inpatients at the Stavanger Salvation Army Treatment Center in the Norwegian specialized healthcare system. Cognition will be evaluated with a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests, including several tests of executive function. Physical fitness will be tested with the Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test, the 30-S Chair Stand Test, the 1-Min Burpee Test at baseline (within the first 2 weeks of admittance) and after 4 weeks. The intervention will be a 30-min workout at 70–90% of maximum heart rate (134–170 bpm), recorded and calculated by a Polar heart rate monitor. The intervention treatment will be administered four times a week for 4 weeks and will consist of high-intensity circuit training, high-intensity interval training, functional movement, and primitive reflex training. We anticipate improvement in both the control and intervention groups, with the exercise intervention group having the greatest increase in recovery of cognitive function because of the combination of functional full body movements and primitive movement training in an intense interval training program.

Clinical Trial Registration ID: ISRCTN74750479, Retrospectively Registered.

Understanding adverse drug-related emergency department visits: development of a conceptual model through a systematic review

Background

The burden of adverse drug event (ADE)-related emergency department (ED) visits is increasing despite several preventive measures. The objective of this paper was to develop and validate a conceptual model for a better understanding of ADE-related ED visits and to guide the design and implementation of effective interventions.

Methods

The development of the model involved a systematic review of the literature using PubMed and Embase databases. Studies reporting the risk factors associated with ADE-related ED visits were included. The methodological qualities of the included studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The model was mapped and validated using face and content validity by an expert panel. Deficiencies and targeted interventions were identified, and steps for the design and implementation were recommended.

Results

The literature search generated 1361 articles, of which 38 were included in the review; 41 risk factors associated with ADE-related ED visits were identified. All factors were mapped, and the model was validated through face and content validity. The model consisted of six concepts related to sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, ADE-related to ED visits, ADE while in the ED, outcomes, and consequences. Interventions could be targeted at the factors identified in each concept to prevent ADE-related ED burden.

Conclusion

A conceptual model to guide the successful design and implementation of strategies to prevent ADE-related ED visits and the occurrence of ADE at ED was developed. Clinicians should take these factors into consideration to prevent untoward events, especially when treating high-risk patients.

Substance Use in Pregnant Women Using the Emergency Department: Undertested And Overlooked?

Introduction

The objective was to determine if pregnant women visiting the emergency department (ED) are tested for substance use as frequently as non-pregnant women.

Methods

We captured all ED visits over a six-year period (2010–2016) from a single community hospital and identified women of childbearing age, defined for our study as 11–50 years old. We collected demographic data including age in years, ethnicity, body mass index, marital status, disposition, last encounter department, method of arrival, and day of week. An independent binary variable was created based on whether the woman was tested for alcohol or drugs (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, opioids) during her visit. We then compared rates of testing for substance use by pregnancy status.

Results

We identified 61,222 ED visits by women of childbearing age (range 11–50, mean 30.5, standard deviation 9.6) over a six-year period from 2010–2016. Of the 57,360 non-pregnant women, 4.14% were tested compared to 1.04% of the 3,862 pregnant women tested with a relative risk of 0.25 (p<0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.183–0.341]). The most highly tested chief complaints for all women – psychiatric or substance use concerns – showed pregnant women were still 37% and 54% less likely to be tested, respectively (risk ratio [RR] 0.46, 95% CI [0.19–1.13]; RR 0.63, 95% CI [0.41–0.96]). Beyond pregnancy status, we found no significant interaction between patient demographics and substance use testing.

Conclusion

Pregnant women presenting to the ED were 75% less likely to be tested for drug or alcohol use than non-pregnant women. Our study showed only pregnancy status as a statistically significant variable in drug- and alcohol-screening rates when pregnant and non-pregnant patient chief complaints and demographics were compared. Increased attention to the screening of pregnant women for substance use may be necessary to provide adequate care and intervention to this population.

The Prevalence and Impact of Substance Use Disorder and Treatment on Maternal Obstetric Experiences and Birth Outcomes Among Singleton Deliveries in Massachusetts

Objectives Despite widely-known negative effects of substance use disorders (SUD) on women, children, and society, knowledge about population-based prevalence and impact of SUD and SUD treatment during the perinatal period is limited. Methods Population-based data from 375,851 singleton deliveries in Massachusetts 2003-2007 were drawn from a maternal-infant longitudinally-linked statewide dataset of vital statistics, hospital discharges (including emergency department (ED) visits), and SUD treatment records. Maternal SUD and SUD treatment were identified from 1-year pre-conception through delivery. We determined (1) the prevalence of SUD and SUD treatment; (2) the association of SUD with women's perinatal health service utilization, obstetric experiences, and birth outcomes; and (3) the association of SUD treatment with birth outcomes, using both bivariate and adjusted analyses. Results 5.5% of Massachusetts's deliveries between 2003 and 2007 occurred in mothers with SUD, but only 66% of them received SUD treatment pre-delivery. Women with SUD were poorer, less educated and had more health problems; utilized less prenatal care but more antenatal ED visits and hospitalizations, and had worse obstetric and birth outcomes. In adjusted analyses, SUD was associated with higher risk of prematurity (AOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.28-1.41) and low birth weight (LBW) (AOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.64-1.82). Women receiving SUD treatment had lower odds of prematurity (AOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.55-0.68) and LBW (AOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.49-0.61). Conclusions for Practice SUD treatment may improve perinatal outcomes among pregnant women with SUD, but many who need treatment don't receive it. Longitudinally-linked existing public health and programmatic records provide opportunities for states to monitor SUD identification and treatment.

Treatment outcomes for substance use disorder among women of reproductive age in Massachusetts: a population-based approach

INTRODUCTION

Longitudinal patterns of treatment utilization and relapse among women of reproductive age with substance use disorder (SUD) are not well known. In this statewide report spanning seven years we describe SUD prevalence, SUD treatment utilization, and differences in subsequent emergency department (ED) use and post-treatment relapse rates by type of treatment: none, 'acute only' (detoxification/stabilization), or 'ongoing' services.

METHODS

We linked a statewide dataset of hospital discharge, observation stay and ED records with SUD treatment admission records from hospitals and freestanding facilities, and birth/fetal death certificates, in Massachusetts, 2002-2008. We aggregated episodes into individual woman records, identified evidence of SUD and treatment, and tested post-treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Nearly 150,000 (8.5%) of 1.7 million Massachusetts women aged 15-49 were identified as SUD-positive. Nearly half of SUD-positive women (71,533 or 48.3%) had evidence of hospital or facility-based SUD treatment; among these, 12% received acute care/detoxification only while 88% obtained 'ongoing' treatment. Treatment varied by substance type; women with dual diagnosis and those with opiate use were least likely to receive 'ongoing' treatment. Treated women were older and less likely to have a psychiatric history or chronic illness. Women who received 'acute only' services were more likely to relapse (12.4% vs. 9.6%) and had a 10% higher rate of ED visits post-treatment than women receiving 'ongoing' treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Many Massachusetts women of reproductive age need but do not receive adequate SUD treatment. 'Ongoing' services beyond detoxification/stabilization may reduce the likelihood of post-treatment relapse and/or reliance on the ED for subsequent medical care.