Quantification of opioid dependence and abuse prevalence in the United States between 2017 and 2018.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the prevalence of opioid drug dependence and abuse in United States between 2017 and 2018 and identify which opioid molecules are associated with a higher level of dependence and abuse. DESIGN: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data for 2017 and 2018 have been extracted. The variables related to painkillers were studied, the most important ones were selected, and several variable crosses were made. After the data were extracted, they were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and PivotTables, calculating the relative prevalence and percentages of patients with abuse and dependence. RESULTS: In total, 1.4 million people had dependence on pain relievers (PRs) in 2018. The last PR used was mostly hydrocodone (33 percent) and oxycodone (24 percent). The main reasons for using a PR without a doctor's prescription were relieving pain (48 percent), feel good (16 percent), and relax or relieve tension (15 percent). Among patients who used a PR with a medical prescription, 1.5 million used it more frequently than prescribed, 1.2 million used it longer than prescribed, and 1.9 million used it in higher amounts than prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: Abuse and dependence to PRs is lower than expected with over 1.4 million people in the United States having dependence in 2018 (0.6 percent point prevalence). Most cases of dependence are associated with misuse or abuse of prescriptions without medical supervision or the use of medications without a prescription of their own. Oxycodone and hydrocodone are the molecules most associated with dependence, misuse, abuse, and use without prescription. The age of onset of oxycodone misuse is very early (14 years old). Fentanyl does not seem relevant in any of the variables studied.

Unidades de trastornos del movimiento y tratamiento de las fluctuaciones motoras de la enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada / Movement disorders units and management of motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson's disease

Introducción. La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) avanzada conlleva complicaciones, como fluctuaciones motoras. Su atención sanitaria en España se realiza frecuentemente en unidades de trastornos del movimiento (UTM). Objetivo. Conocer los recursos diagnósticos y el abordaje terapéutico de las UTM. Sujetos y métodos. Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Se diseñó un cuestionario en línea, dirigido a neurólogos de UTM, de 48 preguntas sobre recursos disponibles, número de pacientes atendidos con EP y con fluctuaciones motoras, y abordaje terapéutico según el estadio de Hoehn y Yahr (H&Y). Resultados. Participaron 55 neurólogos. Disponen de neuroimagen estructural el 100%; neuroimagen funcional, el 89%; tests agudos farmacológicos, el 89%; tests genéticos, el 78%, y ecografía transcraneal, el 53%. Hay 2,5 neurólogos y 1,2 enfermeras por unidad. Atienden a un 19% de pacientes con EP en estadio de H&Y 1, un 59% en estadio de H&Y 2-3 y un 22% en estadio de H&Y 4-5. Utilizan en primer lugar los inhibidores de la monoaminooxidasa B en los estadios de H&Y 1 y 2, y levodopa en los estadios de H&Y 3, 4 y 5. Un 24% de los pacientes tiene fluctuaciones motoras, con 5,5 episodios off diarios, de 44 minutos, con un total de siete horas off diarias. Un 14% de los pacientes de hasta 70 años con más de tres episodios off diarios de larga duración recibe tratamiento invasivo para las fluctuaciones motoras. Conclusiones. Las UTM están bien dotadas de recursos diagnósticos y farmacológicos. Los tratamientos farmacológicos se individualizan con gran variedad de combinaciones. A pesar de esta optimización, la prevalencia de fluctuaciones motoras es todavía alta en pacientes avanzados, y las terapias invasivas pueden infrautilizarse (AU)

Introduction. Advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) entails complications, such as motor fluctuations. In Spain, medical attention for such cases is often provided in movement disorder units (MDU). Aim. To gain further knowledge of the diagnostic resources and therapeutic approach of MDU. Subjects and methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The researchers designed an on-line questionnaire, addressed to neurologists from MDUs, containing 48 questions about the resources they have available, the number of patients with PD and motor fluctuations that have been attended to, as well as the therapeutic approach, according to the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale. Results. Fifty-five neurologists participated. Structural neuroimaging is available to 100% of them; 89% have access tofunctional neuroimaging; 89% have acute pharmacological tests available for use; 78% have access to genetic tests; and 53% have transcranial ultrasound at their disposal. There are 2.5 neurologists and 1.2 nurses per unit. Of the patients with PD that they see, 19% of them are in H&Y stage 1, 59% are in H&Y stage 2-3 and 22% are in H&Y stage 4-5. Treatment consists, first of all, in monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors in H&Y stages 1 and 2, and levodopa in H&Y stages 3, 4 and 5. Twenty-four per cent of the patients have motor fluctuations, with 5.5 off episodes per day, lasting 44 minutes, with a total of seven off hours per day. Fourteen per cent of the patients under 70 years of age with more than three long-term off episodes per day are receiving invasive treatment for motor fluctuations. Conclusions. MDUs are well equipped with diagnostic and pharmacological resources. Pharmacological treatments are tailored to each patient with a wide range of combinations. Despite this optimisation, the prevalence of motor fluctuations is still high in advanced patients, and invasive therapies may be underused (AU)