PMH13 - examining prevalence, incidence and mortality rates among opioid-dependent patients in the U.S. Medicare population

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine incidence, prevalence and mortality rates among opioiddependent patients in the U.S. Medicare population. METHODS: A study was performed for the period from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012 to determinethe prevalence, incidence and mortality rates among opioid-dependent patients(International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes 304.0x and 304.7x) in the U.S. Medicare population. Patients who hadcontinuous fee-for-service Medicare health plan enrollment for the calendar yearand at least 2 years prior were selected for the study. Age- and gender-adjustedopioid dependence prevalence and incidence rates were calculated via direct standardization to the U.S. population age ?65 years in 2010 using gender-specific agegroups. RESULTS: The annual adjusted prevalence of opioid-dependent patientsincreased from 0.06% in 2008 to 0.35% in 2012. Incidence rates increased from 0.06%in 2008 to 0.10% in 2012. Prevalence rates were higher among women than men everyyear during the study period. Patients age 65-69 years had the highest prevalencerates during 2008 (0.09%), 2009 (0.16%), 2010 (0.22%) and 2011 (0.32%). However, in2012, patients who were age 70-74 years had the highest prevalence rates (0.43%).North American Natives had the highest prevalence of opioid dependence comparedto all other races. The highest incidence of opioid dependence was observed inNevada in 2008 (221.9 per 100,000 person-years) and 2012 (222.1 per 100,000 personyears). The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates decreased by 10.5% (3.8 to 3.4 per 1,000person-years) and 25.4% (17.3 to 12.9 per 1,000 person-years), respectively, from 2008to 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid dependence incidence and prevalence decreasedfrom 2008 to 2012; however, opioid dependence-related mortality rates increased.