Assessing Relapse in Patients with Opioid-Use Disorder and Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

The opioid crisis in the United States is of public health significance, with an estimated 128 opioid overdose-related deaths per day in 2018 and a relapse rate of 90% or higher. This crisis persists despite the adoption of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), therefore, there is a need to prevent relapse.

The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for relapse in patients admitted with opioid use disorder (OUD) at a local addiction treatment center in Western New York, from 2018-2020. The aims were to compare rates of relapse to illicit substances between patients with OUD and chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) to those with OUD alone; and to determine factors that predict relapse.

A retrospective chart review design was used. Electronic health records of 75 patients with OUD were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic data; and a χ² test was performed to compare relapse rates in patients with OUD plus CNCP to those with OUP alone. Binary logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of psychiatric comorbidities on relapse.

There was no statistically significant difference between demographic subgroups. No group differences were observed in rates of relapse; however, patients with CNCP were more likely to relapse (p = .06). Psychiatric comorbidities did not predict relapse (p > .05).

Additional research is needed to ascertain other factors predicting relapse in patients with OUD in addiction treatment centers.