Effects of monthly buprenorphine extended-release injections on patient-centered outcomes: A long-term study

Introduction: The physical, social, psychological, and economic burden of opioid use disorder (OUD) is substantial. As of the year 2019, the predominant focus of OUD research was outcomes such as retention and abstinence. We report herein the effects of extended-release buprenorphine (BUP-XR), the first FDA-approved subcutaneously injected, monthly treatment for OUD, on patient-centered outcomes. Materials and methods: Patient-centered outcomes were collected during an open-label safety study of participants with OUD (NCT# 02510014) evaluating BUP-XR. Measures collected during the study included the EQ-5D-5L, SF-36v2, Treatment Effectiveness Assessment (TEA), Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite), employment/insurance status questionnaire, and Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). Changes from baseline to end of study week 49 were analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures. Baseline was defined as the value collected prior to the first BUP-XR injection. Results presented are for those participants who initiated treatment on BUP-XR during the open-label study and were eligible to receive up to 12 injections. Results: Four hundred twelve participants were included in analyses; 206 participants discontinued BUP-XR prematurely. Mean EQ-5D-5L scores remained stable from baseline to end of study. Statistically significant improvements from baseline to end of study were noted for the SF-36v2 mental component summary score (difference = 5.0, 95%CI: 3.5-6.5) and 7 of 8 domain scores (P < .05 for all comparisons); the SF-36v2 physical component summary remained stable from baseline to end of study. The TEA total score (difference = 9.3 points, 95%CI: 8.0-10.5) and 4 of 4 domain scores (difference = 2-3 points per domain) significantly improved from baseline to end of study. Significant improvements (P < .05 for all comparisons) on the ASI-Lite were seen for all problem areas except alcohol use from baseline to end of study. Employment rate increased 7% whereas health insurance status remained stable from baseline to end of study. Medication satisfaction measured using the MSQ was > 88% at end of study. Conclusions: Treatment with BUP-XR monthly injections for up to 12 months in this cohort of treatment-seeking individuals with OUD led to positive PCOs and high treatment satisfaction, which correspond to personal recovery.