Major Finding: Treating opioid dependence in primary care offices identified new chronic medical problems in 36 (27%) of 135 patients and led to initiation of treatment in 70% of 172 previously known chronic medical problems that were not being treated.
Data Source: Retrospective review of patients presenting to a primary care clinic for treatment of opioid dependence who received a prescription for sublingual buprenorphine.
Disclosures: Dr. Rowe said the investigators have no pertinent conflicts of interest.
SAN FRANCISCO – Treating patients for opioid dependence with sublingual buprenorphine in a primary care clinic helped providers identify chronic medical conditions that were not being treated.
Among 135 new patients who presented to a primary care office for help with opioid dependence and who received a prescription for sublingual buprenorphine within a month of their visit, 69% had no primary care provider until that visit. Newly diagnosed chronic medical conditions were identified in 36 (27%) of patients, Dr. Theresa Rowe reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Patients started treatment for 41 (95%) of 43 newly diagnosed chronic medical conditions within a year, said Dr. Rowe of Johns Hopkins University, and her study associate, Dr. Darius Rastegar, of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, both in Baltimore.
The most common new diagnoses were hepatitis C in 11 patients, hypertension in 10, psychiatric disorders in 8, hyperlipidemia in 6, and diabetes in 3 patients. All of these conditions, except the hepatitis C infections, were treated within the year.
In addition, 74% of patients had previously diagnosed chronic medical conditions, but 70% of the 172 previously identified diagnoses were not being treated at the time they sought help for opioid dependence.