Measurement Approaches to Estimating Methadone Continuity in Opioid Use Disorder Care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long-term treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), including methadone, is lifesaving. There has been little examination of how to measure methadone continuity in claims data.

Objectives

To develop an approach for measuring methadone continuity in claims data, and compare estimates of methadone versus buprenorphine continuity.

Research design

Observational cohort study using de-identified commercial claims from OptumLabs Data Warehouse (January 1, 2017-June 30, 2021).

Subjects

Individuals diagnosed with OUD, ≥1 methadone or buprenorphine claim and ≥180 days continuous enrollment (N=29,633).

Measures

OUD medication continuity: months with any use, days of continuous use, and proportion of days covered.

Results

5.4% (N=16

SUBMITTER: Busch AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10377507 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature