Non-fatal opioid overdose, naloxone access, and naloxone training among people who recently used opioids or received opioid agonist treatment in Australia: The ETHOS Engage study

BACKGROUND

Overdose is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people who use opioids. Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses and can be distributed and administered with minimal training. People with experience of overdose are a key population to target for overdose prevention strategies. This study aims to understand if factors associated with recent non-fatal opioid overdose are the same as factors associated with naloxone access and naloxone training in people who recently used opioids or received opioid agonist treatment (OAT).

METHODS

ETHOS Engage is an observational study of people who inject drugs in Australia. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios for non-fatal opioid overdose, naloxone access and naloxone training.

RESULTS

Between May 2018-September 2019, 1280 participants who recently used opioids or received OAT were enrolled (62% aged >40 years; 35% female, 80% receiving OAT, 62% injected drugs in the preceding month). Recent opioid overdose (preceding 12 months) was reported by 7% of participants, lifetime naloxone access by 17%, and lifetime naloxone training by 14%. Compared to people receiving OAT with no additional opioid use, recent opioid, benzodiazepine (preceding six months), and hazardous alcohol use was associated with recent opioid overdose (aOR 3.91; 95%CI: 1.68-9.10) and lifetime naloxone access (aOR 2.12; 95%CI 1.29-3.48). Among 91 people who reported recent overdose, 65% had never received take-home naloxone or naloxone training.

CONCLUSIONS

Among people recently using opioids or receiving OAT, benzodiazepine and hazardous alcohol use is associated with non-fatal opioid overdose. Not all factors associated with non-fatal overdose correspond to factors associated with naloxone access. Naloxone access and training is low across all groups. Additional interventions are needed to scale up naloxone provision.

Randomized clinical trial of the effects of preoperative and postoperative oral nutritional supplements on clinical course and cost of care

BACKGROUND

Postoperative oral nutritional supplementation has been shown to be of clinical benefit. This study examined the clinical effects and cost of administration of oral supplements both before and after surgery.

METHODS

This was a randomized clinical trial conducted in three centres. Patients undergoing lower gastrointestinal tract surgery were randomized to one of four groups: group CC received no nutritional supplements, group SS took supplements both before and after surgery, group CS received postoperative supplements only, and group SC were given supplements only before surgery. Preoperative supplements were given from the time it was decided to operate to 1 day before surgery. Postoperative supplements were started when the patient was able to take free fluids and continued for 4 weeks after discharge from hospital. Data collected included weight change, complications, length of stay, nutritional intake, anthropometrics, quality of life and detailed costings covering all aspects of care.

RESULTS

Some 179 patients were randomized, of whom 27 were withdrawn and 152 analysed (CC 44, SS 32, CS 35, SC 41). Dietary intake was similar in all four groups throughout the study. Mean energy intake from preoperative supplements was 536 and 542 kcal/day in the SS and SC groups respectively; that 2 weeks after discharge from hospital was 274 and 361 kcal/day in the SS and CS groups respectively. There was significantly less postoperative weight loss in the SS group than in the CC and CS groups (P < 0.050), and significantly fewer minor complications in the SS and CS groups than the CC group (P < 0.050). There were no differences in the rate of major complications, anthropometrics and quality of life. Mean overall costs were greatest in the CC group, although differences between groups were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative oral nutritional supplementation started before hospital admission for lower gastrointestinal tract surgery significantly diminished the degree of weight loss and incidence of minor complications, and was cost-effective.

Nutritional support in hospitals in the United Kingdom: national survey 1988

The increasing sophistication of enteral and total parenteral nutritional support techniques has resulted in improvements in the clinical practice of such support in recent years. This survey was designed to establish current clinical practice in the management of nutritionally-compromised hospital patients in 206 districts in the United Kingdom. However, despite recent developments in these techniques, the response revealed a wide variation in the practice of clinical nutritional support. The results also indicate that in each district there should be a group of people, with an interest in clinical nutrition, to monitor and advise on nutritional support. It is suggested that, a national multidisciplinary group should be formed, similar to the American and European Societies of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. The group would promote the appropriate use of, and research into, nutritional support specifically for the nutritionally compromised patient in the United Kingdom.

Enteral nutrition: background, indications and management

Enteral nutrition is only part of the wider field of clinical nutrition in which great advances in both theory and practice have been made over the last decade. We have attempted to summarize what we consider to be the advances that have most relevance to the clinical practice of enteral nutrition. This chapter reviews our present understanding of the processes of digestion and absorption of protein, carbohydrate and fats, and examines how this theoretical understanding can be applied to patients in the clinical situation. A broad classification of the different enteral diets is undertaken, and the reasons for the development of particular diets are discussed. The clinical value of these diets is assessed. The wide variety of indications for enteral (as opposed to parenteral) nutrition are discussed and the specific benefits of enteral nutrition for the patient are highlighted. Techniques of administration of enteral nutrition are reviewed in detail, and the methods by which enteral nutrition should be monitored are outlined. Finally, complications of enteral nutrition are summarized and advice given on how to prevent or treat them.