title: [Characteristics of heroin dependent patients admitted to a methadone treatment program].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methadone is largely used as the primary opioid substitution therapy for the treatment of heroin addiction; the objective of the study was to describe the clinical characteristics of heroin abusers admitted into a methadone maintenance program (MMP) in metropolitan Barcelona.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in patients enrolled in MMP since its introduction in 1992 through December 2010. Socio-demographic data, drug use characteristics, prevalence of blood-borne infections (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], and hepatitis B [HBV] and C [HCV]) and psychiatric co-morbidity were assessed at entry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand and six hundred seventy eight patients (82.8% male). A total of 608 (36.2%) patients were admitted during 1992-1996, 566 (33.7%) between 1997-2001, 305 (18.2%) between 2002-2006 and 199 (11.9%) in the last period. Age at admission to methadone increased significantly (28 years in period 1992-1996 vs. 37 years in the last period [P<.005]). The percentage of patients with a history of intravenous drug use decreased significantly (89.5% in first period vs. 56.4% in period 2007-2010 [P<.05]). Prevalence of HIV, HCV and HBV (HBcAb+) was 53.7, 73.6 and 61.3%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV decreased over time from 66.2% in first period to 43.5% in 2007-2010 (P<.05); the prevalence of HCV decreased significantly from 82.8% in 1992-1996 to 69.8% in last period (P<.05). Twenty five percent of patients had psychiatric co-morbidity at admission and the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity increased over time (21% in 1992-1996 and 32% in 2007-2010; P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age at first opioid substitution therapy is increasing over time, as well as the proportion of patients with psychiatric co-morbidity. There were significant reductions in blood-borne infections.
authors: Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Arantza
authors: A
authors: Sanvisens
authors: Centre d'Atenció i Seguiment de les Drogodependències (CAS-Delta) i Bus Intermunicipal de Metadona (BIM), Institut Municipal de Serveis Personals, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Rivas
authors: Centre d'Atenció i Seguiment de les Drogodependències (CAS-Delta) i Bus Intermunicipal de Metadona (BIM), Institut Municipal de Serveis Personals, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Faure
authors: Centre d'Atenció i Seguiment de les Drogodependències (CAS-Delta) i Bus Intermunicipal de Metadona (BIM), Institut Municipal de Serveis Personals, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Trinidad
authors: T
authors: Muñoz
authors: Centre d'Atenció i Seguiment de les Drogodependències (CAS-Delta) i Bus Intermunicipal de Metadona (BIM), Institut Municipal de Serveis Personals, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Rubio
authors: Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, EE. UU.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Fuster
authors: Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Tor
authors: Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: rmuga.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Muga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D008691:Methadone
keywords: Addiction; Adicción; Co-morbidity; Comorbilidad; Heroin; Heroína; Metadona; Methadone