Does Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Improve Outcomes for Co-Occurring Hepatitis C?

Authors

Matt G. Marko, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Addiction Medicine

Advisor

Dr. Thomas Colletti, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to determine if medication-assisted treatment for patients with opioid use disorder improves the outcomes for their co-occurring hepatitis C.

Method: A PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar literature search were conducted with search terms opioid use disorder, hepatitis c, medication-assisted therapy, incidence, prevalence, transmission, and seroconversion rates. Articles older than eight years were filtered, and only clinical reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials were considered. The free full-text filter was utilized, and the articles were critically appraised for validity. Twenty pertinent articles were evaluated and serve as the basis for this clinical review.

Results: Medication-assisted treatment for opioid disorder improves hepatitis C outcomes.

Conclusion: The best available evidence suggests that medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder improves hepatitis C outcomes. Patients on medication-assisted treatment are more likely to get the referral, evaluation, and treatment for hepatitis C. The medications also decreased incidence, transmission, and seroconversion rates of hepatitis C. Further research into the positive impact medication-assisted treatment can have on patients with opioid-use disorder, and hepatitis C is advised.

Keywords: Opioid use disorder, hepatitis C, medication-assisted treatment.

Recommended Citation

Marko MG. Does Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Improve Outcomes for Co-Occurring Hepatitis C?. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2020; 2(1).