Maternal methadone treatment and neonatal abstinence syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This article aims to describe neonatal outcomes, clinical correlates, and the rate for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) for women on methadone maintenance therapy.


METHODS
This study is a retrospective review, which includes 119 mothers and 120 live newborns.


RESULTS
Methadone mothers tends to be white, single, on government insurance, with increased tobacco use (73%) and hepatitis C (11%). Prematurity increased (28%), and the term infant had a higher risk for admission for respiratory symptoms (22, 7%, p < 0.001). Overall, 78% newborns developed NAS, with the onset of symptoms 4.3 ± 2.9 days, and average length of stay of 36.7 ± 26.4 days. There was a decreased overall gestational age for those infants who did not have NAS (36, 38 weeks, p = 0.04). Overall, 56% had possible illicit drug supplementation. Self-reporting had a 59% negative predictive value with a positive drug screen. No difference in maternal methadone dosage and newborns with and without NAS. Increasing gestational age will increase the odds for NAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Newborns are at higher risk for prematurity and admission for respiratory symptoms. Utilizing a 7-day observation period, 78% of newborns were diagnosed with NAS with a mean onset of symptoms of 4.3 days. There was no difference in methadone dosage between babies with and without NAS. Increasing gestational age increases the risk for NAS.
Division of Neonatology, Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Florida.
William F
WF
Liu
Division of Neonatology, Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Florida.
Kultar
K
Singh
Division of Neonatology, Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Florida.
Mohamed
M
Faisal
Department of Mathematics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida.
Shuang
S
Li
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008691:Methadone