Relation of substance use disorders to mortality, accident and emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions: A 13-year population-based cohort study in Hong Kong

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 229; no. Pt B; p. 109119
• Main Authors: Wei, Yue, Zhao, Jiaxi, Wong, Ian CK, Wan, Eric YF, Taylor, David McD, Blais, Joseph E., Castle, David J., Knott, Jonathan C., Tse, Man Li, Chow, Anthony TY, Chan, Esther W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-12-2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Accident and emergency department attendances; Accidents; Admissions policies; Amphetamines; Asians; Cardiovascular diseases; Child; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Confidence intervals; Data base management systems; Drug use; Emergency medical services; Emergency Service, Hospital; Emergency services; Fatalities; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Hospital admissions; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Ketamine; Mental disorders; Mortality; Opioid-Related Disorders; Opioids; Patient admissions; Patients; Poisoning; Population studies; Population-based studies; Propensity; Respiratory diseases; Risk assessment; Risk factors; Statistical analysis; Substance use; Substance use disorder; Substance use disorders; Toxicity; Hong Kong; Hong Kong China; China; Substance use disorders; Hospital admissions; Mortality; Accident and emergency department attendances; Asians
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109119

The impact of substance use disorders (SUD) in an Asian population has not been fully explored. We aimed to assess the risk of mortality, accident and emergency (A&E) department attendances, and hospital admissions associated with SUD in a population-based cohort study.
Patients diagnosed with SUD in public A&E departments from 2004 to 2016 (N = 8,423) were identified in the Clinical Database Analysis and Reporting System of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and 1:1 matched to patients without SUD by propensity score (N = 6,074 in each group). Relative risks of mortality, A&E attendances and hospital admissions were assessed using Cox regression and Hurdle negative binomial regression.
Patients with SUD had higher mortality (hazard ratio=1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.26–1.62) and more often died from poisoning or toxicity and injuries. The odds ratio (OR) for A&E attendances and all-cause hospital admissions associated with SUD were 2.80 (95% CI=2.58–3.04) and 3.54 (95% CI=3.26–3.83), respectively. The impact of SUD on the above outcomes was greatest among school-aged individuals (≤ 21 years) and decreased with age. The relative risk of mental disorder-related hospital admissions was much higher than that for infections, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. In patients with SUD, ketamine and amphetamine use were associated with increased A&E attendances than opioid use.
SUD was associated with increased mortality, A&E attendances and hospital admissions, especially in school-aged individuals. Our findings suggest prioritising early treatment and preventive interventions for school-aged individuals and focusing on the management of comorbid mental disorders and the use of ketamine and amphetamine.
•Substance use disorder (SUD) is related to higher mortality in Hong Kong population.•Patients with SUD have greater demand for accident and emergency department attendances and hospital admissions.•The impact of SUD is greatest among patients aged under 21.•Mental disorder is a major factor related to the increased hospital admissions.•Ketamine and amphetamine are related to higher healthcare utilisation than opioids.