Risk of death during and after opiate substitution treatment in primary care: prospective observational study in UK General Practice Research Database.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the effect of opiate substitution treatment at the beginning and end of treatment and according to duration of treatment.

Design

Prospective cohort study. Setting UK General Practice Research Database.

Participants

Primary care patients with a diagnosis of substance misuse prescribed methadone or buprenorphine during 1990-2005. 5577 patients with 267 003 prescriptions for opiate substitution treatment followed-up (17 732 years) until one year after the expiry of their last prescription, the date of death before this time had elapsed, or the date of transfer away from the practice.

Main outcome measures

Mortality rates and rate ratios comparing periods in and out of treatment adjusted for sex, age, calendar year, and comorbidity; standar

SUBMITTER: Cornish R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2965139 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature