Community-level factors influencing the duration of buprenorphine treatment in individuals with opioid use disorder: a cohort study using US longitudinal claims data
Cohort study identifies social vulnerability's influence on buprenorphine treatment duration in individuals with opioid use disorder, suggesting improved access could enhance retention.
Key Points
This research examines community-level influences on the duration of buprenorphine treatment in individuals with opioid use disorder.
Conducted a retrospective cohort study using longitudinal claims data from 2006 to 2022.
Included adults aged 18 and older who initiated buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.
Monitored treatment episodes defined by refill continuity until a gap of more than 14 days occurred.
Linked patient ZIP codes to social vulnerability scores, provider density, and behavioral health services availability.
Analyzed associations using stepwise multinomial logistic regression.
Most individuals were males (60.8%) aged 18-34 years (47.7%) and commercially insured (76.0%).
Living in low-vulnerability areas was associated with higher odds of longer treatment duration (1.95 for long-term treatment).
High provider density and access to mental health services correlated with longer retention for all treatment durations.