Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Background & Aim: Methadone has been approved to be an effectively therapeutic strategy for opioid users. However, few studies had investigated association between dose of Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) and related factors. Our study aimed to investigate potential factors of them. Methods: This retrospective study included newly patients with opioid dependence at outpatient department in the Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Taiwan. Primary outcome would be set as daily doses of methadone. The potential predictors, which were presented with categorical variables, included sex, employment status, present of sleep disorder, and marital status. Continuous variables as predictors included age, age at initial MMT, educational level, and attendance rates. The Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) were used to analyze the effect of potential variables over time on primary outcome. Results: Of the 1290 patients, 85.3% (n=1100) were male, and 36.4% (n=469) of patients were comorbid with sleep disorder. Patients comorbid with sleep disorder had higher doses of daily methadone than those without sleep disorder (Estimate: 7.03, P<0.001). Younger age (Estimate: -1.22, P<0.001) and older age at initial MMT (Estimate: 0.44, P<0.001) significantly related to higher doses of MMT. Furthermore, lower educational level (Estimate: -0.90, P=0.003) and attendance rates (Estimate: -0.14, P=0.033) significantly associated with higher doses of daily methadone among patients undergoing MMT. For the remaining variables, all of them did not reached statistical significance. Conclusion: We reported that several variables were associated with dose of MMT. Future studies will be necessary to replicate our findings and extend the universality. edcrfvm45@hotmail.com

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