The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study
Abstract Background In April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Drug and Alcohol services modified their delivery of opioid dependency treatment (ODT) to reduce spread of COVID-19 and maintain continuity of care by increasin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17827-0 |
| _version_ | 1797272964254662656 |
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| author | Benjamin T. Trevitt Victoria Hayes Rachel Deacon Llewellyn Mills Apo Demirkol Nicholas Lintzeris |
| author_facet | Benjamin T. Trevitt Victoria Hayes Rachel Deacon Llewellyn Mills Apo Demirkol Nicholas Lintzeris |
| author_sort | Benjamin T. Trevitt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Drug and Alcohol services modified their delivery of opioid dependency treatment (ODT) to reduce spread of COVID-19 and maintain continuity of care by increasing use of takeaway doses (TADs), transferring clients to local community pharmacies for dosing and encouraging the use of long-acting depot buprenorphine (LADB) which enabled once a month dosing. Methods This study was a retrospective longitudinal case–control study conducted from August 1st, to November 30th, 2021. Eligible clients were those admitted for treatment with SESLHD ODT Services prior to August 1st,2021 and who remained in treatment beyond November 30th, 2021. COVID-19 diagnoses were determined by a COVID-19 PCR and extracted from the electronic Medical Records (eMR) Discern Reporting Portal. Demographic, clinical and dosing related data were collected from eMR and the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Results Clients attending SESLHD ODT services had significantly greater odds of acquiring COVID-19 than the NSW adult population at large (OR: 13.63, 95%CI: 9.64,18.88). Additionally, amongst SESLHD ODT clients, being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin was associated with greater odds of acquiring COVID-19 (OR = 2.18, CI: 1.05,4.53); whilst being employed (OR = 0.06, CI:0.01,0.46), receiving doses at pharmacy (OR = 0.43, CI: 0.21,0.89), and being vaccinated (OR = 0.12, CI: 0.06,0.26) were associated with lower odds. Every additional day of attendance required for dosing was associated with a 5% increase in odds of acquiring COVID-19 (OR = 1.05, CI: 1.02,1.08). Conclusions Clients attending SESLHD ODT services are significantly more likely to acquire COVID-19 than the NSW population at large. Promoting vaccination uptake, transferring clients to pharmacy, and reducing the frequency of dosing (by use of takeaway doses or long-acting depot buprenorphine) are all potential methods to reduce this risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bbdd9b033c742f4875bbfb9dfa8e37d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bbdd9b033c742f4875bbfb9dfa8e37d2024-03-05T20:36:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-02-0124111210.1186/s12889-024-17827-0The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational studyBenjamin T. Trevitt0Victoria Hayes1Rachel Deacon2Llewellyn Mills3Apo Demirkol4Nicholas Lintzeris5Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictDrug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictDrug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictDrug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictDrug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictDrug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictAbstract Background In April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Drug and Alcohol services modified their delivery of opioid dependency treatment (ODT) to reduce spread of COVID-19 and maintain continuity of care by increasing use of takeaway doses (TADs), transferring clients to local community pharmacies for dosing and encouraging the use of long-acting depot buprenorphine (LADB) which enabled once a month dosing. Methods This study was a retrospective longitudinal case–control study conducted from August 1st, to November 30th, 2021. Eligible clients were those admitted for treatment with SESLHD ODT Services prior to August 1st,2021 and who remained in treatment beyond November 30th, 2021. COVID-19 diagnoses were determined by a COVID-19 PCR and extracted from the electronic Medical Records (eMR) Discern Reporting Portal. Demographic, clinical and dosing related data were collected from eMR and the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Results Clients attending SESLHD ODT services had significantly greater odds of acquiring COVID-19 than the NSW adult population at large (OR: 13.63, 95%CI: 9.64,18.88). Additionally, amongst SESLHD ODT clients, being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin was associated with greater odds of acquiring COVID-19 (OR = 2.18, CI: 1.05,4.53); whilst being employed (OR = 0.06, CI:0.01,0.46), receiving doses at pharmacy (OR = 0.43, CI: 0.21,0.89), and being vaccinated (OR = 0.12, CI: 0.06,0.26) were associated with lower odds. Every additional day of attendance required for dosing was associated with a 5% increase in odds of acquiring COVID-19 (OR = 1.05, CI: 1.02,1.08). Conclusions Clients attending SESLHD ODT services are significantly more likely to acquire COVID-19 than the NSW population at large. Promoting vaccination uptake, transferring clients to pharmacy, and reducing the frequency of dosing (by use of takeaway doses or long-acting depot buprenorphine) are all potential methods to reduce this risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17827-0COVID-19Opioid dependency treatmentTakeaway doseVaccinationMethadoneSublingual buprenorphine |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin T. Trevitt Victoria Hayes Rachel Deacon Llewellyn Mills Apo Demirkol Nicholas Lintzeris The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study BMC Public Health COVID-19 Opioid dependency treatment Takeaway dose Vaccination Methadone Sublingual buprenorphine |
| title | The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_full | The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_short | The impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon COVID-19 transmission in Sydney, Australia: a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_sort | impact of changes in opioid dependency treatment upon covid 19 transmission in sydney australia a retrospective longitudinal observational study |
| topic | COVID-19 Opioid dependency treatment Takeaway dose Vaccination Methadone Sublingual buprenorphine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17827-0 |
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