Association between opioid use disorder and palliative care: a cohort study using linked health administrative data in Ontario, Canada
Lau J, Scott MM, Everett K, Gomes T, Tanuseputro P, Jennings S, Bagnarol R, Zimmermann C, Isenberg SR. CMAJ. 2024;
Objective — To examine use of first-line alcohol use disorder (AUD) medications (naltrexone and acamprosate) among public drug plan beneficiaries in the year following an AUD diagnosis.
Design — Retrospective population-based cohort study.
Setting — Ontario.
Participants — Individuals eligible for public drug plan benefits who had an AUD diagnosis at a hospital visit between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012.
Main Outcome Measures — Number of AUD medications dispensed to public drug plan beneficiaries who had a recent hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis, and number of prescriptions dispensed per person.
Results — A total of 10 394 Ontarians between 18 and 65 years of age were identified who had a hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis and were eligible for public drug plan benefits. The rate of AUD medications dispensed in the subsequent year was 3.56 per 1000 population (95% CI 2.51 to 4.91; n = 37). This rate did not differ significantly by sex (P = .83).
Conclusion — Very few public drug plan beneficiaries are dispensed first-line AUD medications in the year following an AUD diagnosis.
Spithoff S, Turner S, Martins D, Gomes T, Singh S. Can Fam Physician. 2017; 63(5):e277-83.
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