Only 44% of patients with opioid use disorder adhered to their prescribed buprenorphine treatment in primary care settings, according to a recent study published in BMC Primary Care.
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of buprenorphine adherence among 345 patients (61.7% male; mean age, 37.6 years) with opioid use disorder (OUD) who initiated treatment between March 2019 and July 2021. Adherence was defined as having medication coverage for at least 80% of the first six months of treatment.
Results indicated that male sex was significantly associated with lower adherence (odds ratio [OR], 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.57; P < .001). Patients with unexpected positive opioid toxicology results were also less likely to adhere to their treatment regimen (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.83; P = .014). Urine toxicology screens included various substances, but opioid use was notably linked to decreased adherence. In contrast, former smokers were more likely to adhere to buprenorphine compared with current smokers (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.02-3.27; P = .014).
The study also highlighted the broader context of adherence, noting that low adherence rates are consistent with prior findings and may be influenced by factors such as patient support systems and co-treatment for smoking cessation.
Full disclosures can be found in the published analysis.