Abstract
Purpose: In 2016, the US rate of opioid use-associated infective endocarditis (OUA IE) hospitalizations was 3.86/100,000 for rural and 3.49/100,000 for urban residents. This study estimates the Kentucky OUA IE hospitalization rates, 2016-2019, describing differences in rural-urban residency trends, demographics, relevant comorbidities, and discharge disposition. OUA IE hospitalization rates between counties with and without syringe services programs (SSPs) are also compared. Methods: We used Kentucky statewide inpatient discharge records from 2016 to 2019. An OUA IE hospitalization was identified by an infective endocarditis discharge diagnosis in any diagnosis field and a concurrent diagnosis indicating opioid use. Rurality was determined based on the 2013 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Findings: Kentucky's rate of OUA IE hospitalizations in 2016 was 8.9/100,000, with no significant variation between rural and urban residents. By 2019, the average rate for urban residents doubled to 17.9/100,000, significantly higher than the rural resident rate, 13.2/100,000. There were no significant rural-urban differences in percentages of those with concurrent diagnoses of HIV (<1%) or HCV (>60%). Counties that established SSPs in 2017-2018 had a 39.4% increase in OUA IE rates from 2016 to 2019, while counties without SSPs had a 79.5% increase. Conclusion: The estimated 2016 Kentucky rates of OUA IE hospitalizations are 2 times higher than reported national rates, highlighting Kentucky as one of the areas most affected by this particular opioid use disorder complication. Despite challenges and barriers to the effectiveness of SSPs as a harm reduction measure, our study suggests a positive effect that should be further investigated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 604-611 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Rural Health |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors acknowledge the support from the Office of Health Data and Analytics, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, for providing data for this study.
Funding Information:
This study was supported by funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) via Grants No. 2017‐PM‐BX‐K026. The BJA is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Funding Information:
This study was supported by funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) via Grants No. 2017-PM-BX-K026. The BJA is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. The authors acknowledge the support from the Office of Health Data and Analytics, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, for providing data for this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 National Rural Health Association.
Keywords
- HCV
- HIV
- infective endocarditis
- opioid drug use
- syringe services programs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
