Health-related quality of life of long-term patients receiving opioid agonist therapy: a nested prospective cohort study in Norway

Media type: E-Article
Title: Health-related quality of life of long-term patients receiving opioid agonist therapy: a nested prospective cohort study in Norway
Contributor: Aas, Christer Frode; Vold, Jørn Henrik; Skurtveit, Svetlana; Lim, Aaron G.; Ruths, Sabine; Islam, Kamrul; Askildsen, Jan Erik; Løberg, Else-Marie; Fadnes, Lars Thore; Johansson, Kjell Arne; Aas, Christer Frode; Buljovcic, Vibeke Bråthen; Chalabianloo, Fatemeh; Daltveit, Jan Tore; Alpers, Silvia Eiken; Fadnes, Lars T.; Eriksen, Trude Fondenes; Gundersen, Per; Hille, Velinda; Håberg, Kristin Holmelid; Johansson, Kjell Arne; Leiva, Rafael Alexander; Carlsen, Siv-Elin Leirvåg; Bonnier, Martine Lepsøy; [...]
imprint: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Language: English
DOI: 10.1186/s13011-020-00309-y
ISSN: 1747-597X
Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health ; Health Policy
Origination:
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Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Opioid dependence carries the highest disease burden of all illicit drugs. Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is an evidence-based medical intervention that reduces morbidity and mortality. There is limited knowledge on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term patients in OAT. This study measures HRQoL and self-perceived health of long-term patients on OAT, compares the scores to a Norwegian reference population, and assesses changes in these scores at 1-year follow up.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>We conducted a nested prospective cohort study among nine OAT outpatient clinics in Norway. 609 OAT patients were included, 245 (40%) followed-up one year later. Data on patient characteristics, HRQoL, and self-perceived health was collected. HRQoL was assessed with the EQ-5D-5L, which measures five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression) on a five-point Likert scale (from “no problems” to “extreme problems”). An UK value set was applied to calculate index values (from 0 to 1) for the EQ-5D-5L and compare them to a Norwegian reference population. Self-perceived health was measured with EQ-VAS (from 0 to 100).</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Mean (standard deviation (SD)) EQ-5D-5L index value at baseline was 0.699 (0.250) and EQ-VAS 57 (22) compared to 0.848 (0.200) and 80(19) for the Norwegian reference population. There were large variations in EQ-5D-5L index values, where 43% had > 0.8 and 5% had < 0.2 at baseline. The lowest EQ-5D-5L index values were observed for female patients, age groups older than 40 years and for methadone users. At follow-up, improvements in HRQoL were observed across almost all dimensions and found significant for mobility and pain/discomfort. Mean (SD) overall index value and EQ-VAS at follow up were 0.729 (0.237) and 59 (22) respectively.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title> <jats:p>The average HRQoL and self-perceived health of OAT patients is significantly lower than that of the general population, and lower than what has been found among other severe somatic and psychiatric conditions. Around 34% had very good HRQoL, higher than average Norwegian values, and around 5% had extremely poor HRQoL.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
Access State: Open Access

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