Outpatient methadone maintenance treatment program. Quality of life and health of opioid-dependent persons in Lithuania.
BACKGROUND
The evaluation of quality of life and self-perceived health represents an assessment of the impact of treatment on patient functioning and well-being.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to explore the impact of methadone maintenance treatment on quality of life and self-perceived health of opioid-dependent persons in Lithuania.


METHODS
A total of 102 opioid-dependent patients were recruited in the study. A prospective follow-up study design was used. To assess quality of life, the WHOQOL-BREF 26-item version was used. The impact of methadone maintenance treatment on self-perceived health was assessed by Opiate Treatment Index (OTI).


RESULTS
Following 6 months of methadone maintenance treatment, significant improvements in physical (P=0.004), psychological (P=0.004), and environmental (P=0.048) components of quality of life were observed; no statistically significant improvements were found in social component of quality of life. Study participants reported lower rates of medical morbidity associated with injection (P<0.001), cardiorespiratory (P=0.034), musculoskeletal (P<0.001), neurological (P=0.013), gastrointestinal (P<0.001), and general health (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Methadone maintenance treatment substantially reduces morbidity associated with opioid dependence and improves the quality of life of patients.
Padaiga
Zilvinas
Z
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Subata
Emilis
E
Vanagas
Giedrius
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010045:Outpatients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone