GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FIRST-TIME ADMITTED OPIOID USERS RECEIVING MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER (MOUD)
Author(s)
Samantha T. Mamani, BS, PharmD Candidate1, William Le, BS, PharmD Candidate1, Sean Hyungwoo Kim, BA, MS, PharmD, PhD2.
1Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, USA, 2Biopharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacogenomics, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, USA.
1Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, USA, 2Biopharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacogenomics, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is associated with physical, psychological, and social complications. Medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone have been approved to reduce symptoms of OUD and are recommended in the American Society of Addiction Medicine's opioid use disorder treatment guidelines. Despite this, not all OUD users receive medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Our objective is to assess gender differences in MOUD receipt among first-time treatment admissions.
METHODS: We used the 2006-2023 Treatment Episode Data Set for Admissions. Inclusion criteria were males and females diagnosed with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis of opioid dependence with no previous substance use rehabilitation admission. Analyses included descriptive analyses, chi-squared tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses stratified by sex to assess differences in users receiving MOUD.
RESULTS: A total of 981,115 first-time treatment admissions met inclusion criteria; 57.6% were male and 42.4% were female. Significant sex differences were observed across primary substances used, age, education, marital status, region, employment status, insurance status, race, and ethnicity (p<0.0001). Older age was associated with increased odds of receiving MOUD in both sexes, with stronger associations among males. Compared with individuals aged 18-20 years, males aged 55-64 years had 4.78 times higher odds of receiving MOUD (95% CI: 4.56-5.02), whereas females had 3.99 times higher odds (95% CI: 3.78-4.20). Regional differences were also evident, with females in the Northeast demonstrating higher odds of MOUD receipt compared to the South (AOR=2.59; 95% CI: 2.54-2.65). This association is also evident in the male population (AOR=2.30; 95% CI: 2.26-2.34).
CONCLUSIONS: Significant sex and US region specific differences exist in MOUD receipt among first-time treatment admissions for opioid dependence. Targeted strategies addressing age and sex related barriers may improve equitable access to MOUD.
METHODS: We used the 2006-2023 Treatment Episode Data Set for Admissions. Inclusion criteria were males and females diagnosed with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis of opioid dependence with no previous substance use rehabilitation admission. Analyses included descriptive analyses, chi-squared tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses stratified by sex to assess differences in users receiving MOUD.
RESULTS: A total of 981,115 first-time treatment admissions met inclusion criteria; 57.6% were male and 42.4% were female. Significant sex differences were observed across primary substances used, age, education, marital status, region, employment status, insurance status, race, and ethnicity (p<0.0001). Older age was associated with increased odds of receiving MOUD in both sexes, with stronger associations among males. Compared with individuals aged 18-20 years, males aged 55-64 years had 4.78 times higher odds of receiving MOUD (95% CI: 4.56-5.02), whereas females had 3.99 times higher odds (95% CI: 3.78-4.20). Regional differences were also evident, with females in the Northeast demonstrating higher odds of MOUD receipt compared to the South (AOR=2.59; 95% CI: 2.54-2.65). This association is also evident in the male population (AOR=2.30; 95% CI: 2.26-2.34).
CONCLUSIONS: Significant sex and US region specific differences exist in MOUD receipt among first-time treatment admissions for opioid dependence. Targeted strategies addressing age and sex related barriers may improve equitable access to MOUD.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH73
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Safety & Pharmacoepidemiology
Disease
Mental Health (including addiction)