Health-Related Quality of Life Among Prescription Opioid-Dependent Patients: Results from a Multi-Site Study

BackgroundAlthough prescription opioid use disorder has recently increased sharply in the United States, relatively little is known about the general well-being of this population. Assessment of quality of life in patients with substance use disorders has been recommended to improve clinical care. ObjectivesHealth-related quality of life was examined in prescription opioid-dependent patients at entry to a national multi-site clinical trial, to compare quality of life scores in the study sample to other populations; further, background variables associated with quality of life in the literature were examined. MethodsPrescription opioid-dependent patients (N=653) were compared to general populations on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life measure; and the association between patient background variables and quality of life was examined. ResultsCompared to a general population, the current sample of prescription opioid-dependent patients had worse physical (-1.7 points, p<.001) and mental quality of life (-12.3 points, p<.001) as measured by the SF-36, similar to other opioid-use disorder populations. Within our sample, women showed more impairment than men in mental quality of life (-4.3 points, p<.001); older patients scored worse on physical (-5.2 points, p<.001), but not mental, quality of life. Chronic pain was associated with poorer physical quality of life (-9.0 points, p<.001). Conclusions and scientific significanceThe growing focus on wellness underscores the importance of measuring quality of life in addition to substance use outcomes. Routine assessment of health-related quality of life can add an important dimension to overall evaluation of patients' treatment response. (Am J Addict 2014;XX:1 -7)