Rheumatic Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Show Lower DMARD Use and Higher Acute Care

A recent study published online on July 13 in *Arthritis Care & Research* examined the clinical profiles of patients who have both rheumatic diseases and opioid use disorder (OUD). The research found that this subgroup displays distinct demographic and clinical characteristics compared with rheumatic patients without OUD. Notably, individuals with OUD were less likely to receive disease‑modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and were more frequent users of acute care services such as emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

The investigators highlighted that the lower DMARD utilization may reflect concerns about drug interactions, adherence challenges, or provider hesitancy to prescribe immunosuppressive therapy in patients with substance‑use disorders. Concurrently, the increased acute‑care use suggests that these patients experience more frequent disease flares or complications, potentially driven by suboptimal disease control and the complex interplay of pain management with opioid therapy.

These findings underscore the need for integrated care models that address both rheumatic disease management and substance‑use treatment. By tailoring therapeutic strategies and ensuring coordinated care, clinicians may improve outcomes for this vulnerable population while reducing reliance on acute‑care resources.