Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Individuals With a Substance Use Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: There is limited evidence on colorectal cancer screening among individuals with a substance use disorder. This study aims to investigate the association between personal history of a substance use disorder and colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening completion rates. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 176,300 patients, of whom 171,973 had no substance use disorder and 4,327 had a substance use disorder diagnosis from electronic health record data (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2022) in a Midwestern healthcare system. Baseline was January 1, 2013, and a 10-year follow-up period ran through December 31, 2022. The outcome was receipt of colonoscopy in the 10-year follow-up period. Patients were aged 50-65 years at baseline, meaning that they were eligible for a colonoscopy through the entirety of the 10-year follow-up period. Covariates included demographics (age, race, and neighborhood SES), health services utilization, psychiatric and physical comorbidities, and prior colonoscopy or fecal occult blood testing. Entropy balancing was used to control for confounding in weighted log-binomial models calculating RR and 95% CIs. Results: Patients were on average aged 57.1 (±4.5) years, 58.2% were female, 81.0% were White, and 16.9% were of Black race. The most prevalent comorbidities were obesity (29.6%) and hypertension (29.4%), followed by smoking/nicotine dependence (21.0%). The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity was depression (6.4%), followed by anxiety disorder (4.5%). During the 10-year follow-up period, 40.3% of eligible patients completed a colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening test, and individuals with a substance use disorder diagnosis were significantly less likely to receive a colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening test both prior to and after controlling for confounding (RR=0.73; 95% CI=0.70, 0.77 and RR=0.81; 95% CI=0.74, 0.89, respectively). Results were not modified by sex, race, psychiatric comorbidity, or neighborhood SES. Conclusions: Personal history of substance use disorder was independently associated with lower screening completion rates. Healthcare professionals should recognize unique barriers among individuals with substance use disorder and then address them individually as a multidisciplinary team in the outpatient setting to reduce this health disparity.

Depression and Long-Term Prescription Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder: Implications for Pain Management in Cancer.

OPINION STATEMENT: Preventing depression in cancer patients on long-term opioid therapy should begin with depression screening before opioid initiation and repeated screening during treatment. In weighing the high morbidity of depression and opioid use disorder in patients with chronic cancer pain against a dearth of evidence-based therapies studied in this population, patients and clinicians are left to choose among imperfect but necessary treatment options. When possible, we advise engaging psychiatric and pain/palliative specialists through collaborative care models and recommending mindfulness and psychotherapy to all patients with significant depression alongside cancer pain. Medications for depression should be reserved for moderate to severe symptoms. We recommend escitalopram/citalopram or sertraline among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) duloxetine, venlafaxine, or desvenlafaxine if patients have a significant component of neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (consider nortriptyline or desipramine, which have better anticholinergic profiles) should be considered for patients who do not respond to or tolerate SSRI/SNRIs. Existing evidence is inadequate to definitively recommend methylphenidate or novel agents, such as ketamine or psilocybin, as adjunctive treatments for cancer-related depression and pain. Physicians who treat patients with cancer pain should utilize universal precautions to limit the risk of non-medical opioid use (non-medical opioid use). Patients should be screened for non-medical opioid use behaviors at initial consultation and at regular intervals during treatment using a non-judgmental approach that reduces stigma. Co-management with an addiction specialist may be indicated for patients at high risk of non-medical opioid use and opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine and methadone are indicated for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and while they have not been systematically studied for treatment of opioid use disorder in patients with cancer pain, they do provide analgesia for cancer pain. While an interdisciplinary team approach to manage psychological stress may be beneficial, this may not be possible for patients treated outside of comprehensive cancer centers.

Care of Incarcerated Patients.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the world. Approximately 870 of every 100,000 U.S. citizens are currently in jails or prisons. U.S. inmates are disproportionately young males, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons of low socioeconomic status. Incarcerated persons have high rates of psychiatric conditions, communicable diseases, substance use disorders, and chronic diseases. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all inmates be screened for human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis C, syphilis, and latent tuberculosis infection, and that sexually active female inmates be screened for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Inmates should also be screened for psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders. Therapy should be continued for all chronic conditions when indicated. Inmates should be referred to community organizations for follow-up medical care and treatment of substance use disorders before they are released from detention facilities. A systematic approach to urgent, routine, and preventive care for persons in jails and prisons creates a healthier correctional environment and a healthier community after release.

Physical Activity and Consumption Patterns of Reproductive-Aged Women by BMI Category.

Objectives Obesity before and during pregnancy is associated with adverse effects for mother and child, but little is known about physical activity and consumption patterns among reproductive-aged women. The goal of this study is to identify behaviors of nonpregnant reproductive-aged women associated with normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Methods Data from the nationally representative National Eating Trends survey (2003-2011) were analyzed, comparing number of days of exercise in a 1-week period and consumption of fruits/vegetables, sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), and concentrated sweets by BMI. Behaviors were compared using analysis of variance and Chi square test across groups. Ordinal logistic regression was used to compare behaviors across groups controlling for demographic factors. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to identify demographic factors associated with behaviors among obese women. Results Among 5941 18-45-year-old women, exercise and fruit/vegetable consumption were associated with healthy weight controlling for demographic factors. Reporting any exercise or fruit/vegetable consumption was associated with decreased odds of overweight or obesity (aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64-0.83 and aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.95, respectively). Consuming SSBs was associated with increasing BMI category while consuming concentrated sweets was unexpectedly associated with normal weight. Among obese women, being on any diet was associated with increased exercise frequency and fruit/vegetable consumption and decreased SSB consumption. Conclusions for Practice Physical activity and consumption behaviors are associated with weight among reproductive-aged women in ways similar to those in the general population. Promoting exercise and fruit/vegetable consumption has the potential to reduce obesity.