| Abstract [eng] |
Objective. To confirm or refute the hypothesis that serum vitamin D levels in prescription opioid-dependent patients affect detoxification, its outcomes, opioid use patterns, and quality of life before and after detoxification. Material and methods. This 2019–2022 study included 33 patients who underwent detoxication from prescription opioids at the Toxicology Center of the Republican Vilnius University Hospital in Lithuania. 23 patients completed the study. Serum vitamin D levels were tested on an outpatient basis prior to detoxication. During detoxication vitamin D supplements were used, vitamin D levels were not re-measured. Quality of life was assessed with SF-36v2 ™ questionnaires in person before detox, on the day of discharge and remotely at least 3 months after detoxication. Results. Detoxication duration for patients with normal vitamin D levels was on average 2.5 days shorter than for patients with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. No statistically significant difference found between groups with different vitamin D concentrations and the prescription opioid dose, duration of opioid use, detoxication outcome, and the SF-36v2™ questionnaire scores. Patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency showed statistically significant positive dynamics in quality of life after detoxication, whereas patients with normal vitamin D levels did not. Conclusion. Higher vitamin D levels may lead to shorter detoxication. Measurement of vitamin D levels identifies patients with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency for whom correction of vitamin D levels during detoxication is appropriate and may lead to an improvement in quality of life after detoxication. |
