scholarly journals Frequency of Early Refills for Opioids in the United States

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1818-1824
Author(s):  
David M Kern ◽  
M Soledad Cepeda ◽  
Maribel Salas ◽  
Syd Phillips ◽  
Matthew H Secrest ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
National Drug ◽  
One Year ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Opioid Users

Abstract Objective Refilling an opioid prescription early is an important risk factor of prescription opioid abuse and misuse; we aimed to understand the scope of this behavior. This study was conducted to quantify the prevalence and distribution of early refills among patients prescribed opioids. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing dispensed prescription records. Patients filling one or more prescription opioids were identified and followed for one year. Early refills were defined as having a second prescription filled ≥15% early relative to the days’ supply of the previous prescription for the same opioid (according to the National Drug Code [NDC]). The distribution of the number of early refills and patient characteristics were assessed. Results A total of 60.6 million patients met the study criteria; 28.8% had two or more opioid prescriptions for the same opioid during follow-up. Less than 3% of all patients receiving an opioid had an early refill. Approximately 10% of those with two or more opioid prescriptions for the same drug had an early refill. For patients with multiple fills (N = 1.5 million with extended-release long-acting [ER/LA] opioids; N = 17.1 million with immediate-release short-acting [IR/SA] opioids), early refills were more common among patients with an ER/LA opioid (18.5%) compared with an IR/SA opioid (8.7%). Three-quarters of patients with an early refill had only one (70.9% and 78.4% for ER/LA and IR/SA, respectively). Conclusion Refilling an opioid prescription with the same opioid early is an infrequent behavior within all opioid users, but more common in ER/LA users. Patients who refilled early tended to do so just once.

Limited Access to On-Label Formulations of Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain as Compared with Conventional Opioids

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1005-1009
Author(s):  
Michael A Fishman ◽  
Ashley Scherer ◽  
Jacob Topfer ◽  
Philip S H Kim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Analgesic Efficacy ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Web Searches ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
Unrestricted Access ◽  
Long Acting

Abstract Importance Buprenorphine is a Schedule III analgesic that is recommended as the firstline long-acting opioid for the treatment of chronic pain due to its ceiling effect on respiratory depression, adverse effect profile, and analgesic efficacy. However, prescription drug coverage policies commonly require that patients try and fail multiple Schedule II conventional opioids before approval of on-label use of buprenorphine for chronic pain. Design A retrospective review was performed looking at coverage of buprenorphine in the forms of Butrans and Belbuca. Patient denial letters, web searches of insurance and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and an online tool (formularylookup.com) were used to assess the coverage and availability of buprenorphine for chronic pain. Results Unrestricted access to Butrans was reported for 42% of commercial lives and 11% of Medicare lives in all locations. Unrestricted access to Belbuca was reported for 53% of commercial lives and 23% of Medicare lives in all locations. Oxycodone immediate-release has unrestricted access for 84% of commercial plans and 97% of Medicare plans. Morphine extended-release has unrestricted access for 62% of commercial lives and 65% of Medicare lives. Conclusions and Relevance There are >17,000 prescription opioid–involved deaths each year in the United States. By substituting buprenorphine as the firstline treatment for chronic and even acute pain, there may be fewer prescribed conventional opioids in the United States. Schedule III buprenorphine formulations for chronic pain should be given unrestricted access for appropriate patients before considering a Schedule II opioid as a public health priority.

scholarly journals Increased Early Revision Rate with the INFINITY Total Ankle Prosthesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0003
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cody ◽  
Michel Taylor ◽  
James Nunley ◽  
Selene Parekh ◽  
James DeOrio
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Tibial Component ◽  
Revision Rate ◽  
The United States ◽  
Additional Patient ◽  
Foot And Ankle ◽  
Early Revision ◽  
One Year ◽  
Component Loosening

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Modern total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) have demonstrated improved survival rates at early- and mid-term follow-up, with revision rates ranging from 4 to 8% at five years. The INFINITY total ankle system (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, TN) was first used in the United States in 2014. Its advantages include the ability to use patient-specific instrumentation and the option to choose between talar dome resurfacing and flat-cut talar components. While this implant is currently popular in the United States, clinical outcomes have not yet been reported. Our aim was to identify the rate of early revision among patients receiving the INFINITY prosthesis. Methods: Patients from two prospectively-collected databases at the authors’ institution were screened for inclusion in the present study. All patients who underwent a primary TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis and who were at least one year postoperative were included. All surgeries were performed by one of two orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons with extensive experience in total ankle arthroplasty. The primary outcome was the need for revision surgery, which was defined as removal of one or both metal components. Peri-implant lucency at most recent follow-up was a secondary outcome. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs at most recent follow-up were graded for lucency independently by two reviewers, both orthopaedic foot and ankle fellows, for individual peri-implant zones (Figure). Each zone was only considered “lucent” if recorded as such by both reviewers. Results: 160 patients underwent TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis between August 2014 and November 2016 with a mean 20 months of follow-up (range, 12-37). Six patients were lost to follow-up. Sixteen patients (10%) underwent revision a mean 1.2 years postoperatively. Revision was performed most commonly for tibial component loosening (seven patients, 4.4%) and deep infection (five patients, 3.1%). Of cases with tibial loosening, progressive lucency and/or subsidence was obvious radiographically in four patients; one patient had equivocal radiographs but loosening was suggested on single-photon emission computed tomography; and two patients revised for persistent pain had loosening confirmed intraoperatively. Of the 108 patients with retained components and at least one year of radiographic follow-up, eight (7.4%) had global lucency around the tibial component at most recent follow-up. Conclusion: Our initial review of patients undergoing TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis demonstrates an elevated early revision rate due to tibial component loosening. The reasons for this finding remain unclear, but could possibly include inadequate bony purchase of the implant’s three prongs, particularly in patients with large preoperative deformities or with imperfect component alignment. We plan to further investigate the possible reasons for this finding in the future by assessing additional patient factors, including age, sex, arthritis type, tobacco use, pre- and postoperative coronal and sagittal alignment, and presence of ipsilateral hindfoot fusion.

scholarly journals Patterns of Long-Term Prescription Opioid Use Among Older Adults in the United States: A Study of Medicare Administrative Claims Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 1;24 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 31-40
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Claims Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Administrative Claims ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Administrative Claims Data

BACKGROUND: Long-term opioid therapy was prescribed with increasing frequency over the past decade. However, factors surrounding long-term use of opioids in older adults remains poorly understood, probably because older people are not at the center stage of the national opioid crisis. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the annual utilization and trends in long-term opioid use among older adults in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Data from Medicare-enrolled older adults. METHODS: This study utilized a nationally representative sample of Medicare administrative claims data from the years 2012 to 2016 containing records of health care services for more than 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries each year. Medicare beneficiaries who were 65 years of age or older and who were enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B, and D, but not Part C, for at least 10 months in a year were included in the study. We measured annual utilization and trends in new long-term opioid use episodes over 4 years (2013–2016). We examined claims records for the demographic characteristics of the eligible individuals and for the presence of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), cancer, and other comorbidities. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2016, administrative claims of approximately 2.3 million elderly Medicare beneficiaries were analyzed in each year with a majority of them being women (~56%) and white (~82%) with a mean age of approximately 75 years. The proportion of all eligible beneficiaries with at least one new opioid prescription increased from 6.64% in 2013, peaked at 10.32% in 2015, and then decreased to 8.14% in 2016. The proportion of individuals with long-term opioid use among those with a new opioid prescription was 12.40% in 2013 and 10.20% in 2016. Among new long-term opioid users, the proportion of beneficiaries with a cancer diagnosis during the study years increased from 13.30% in 2013 to 15.67% in 2016, and the proportion with CNCP decreased from 30.25% in 2013 to 27.36% in 2016. Across all years, long-term opioid use was consistently high in the Southern states followed by the Midwest region. LIMITATIONS: This study used Medicare fee-for-service administrative claims data to capture prescription fill patterns, which do not allow for the capture of individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, cash prescriptions, or for the evaluation of appropriateness of prescribing, or the actual use of medication. This study only examined long-term use episodes among patients who were defined as opioid-naive. Finally, estimates captured for 2016 could only utilize data from 9 months of the year to capture 90-day long-term-use episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Using a national sample of elderly Medicare beneficiaries, we observed that from 2013 to 2016 the use of new prescription opioids increased from 2013 to 2014 and peaked in 2015. The use of new long-term prescription opioids peaked in 2014 and started to decrease from 2015 and 2016. Future research needs to evaluate the impact of the changes in new and long-term prescription opioid use on population health outcomes. KEY WORDS: Long-term, opioids, older adults, trends, Medicare, chronic non-cancer pain, cancer, cohort study

scholarly journals Impact of paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation on relapse prevention in patients with schizophrenia: A post-hoc analysis of a one-year, open-label study stratified by medication adherence

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 691-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianmei Si ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Huafei Lu ◽  
Shangli Cai ◽  
Jianmin Zhuo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Paliperidone Palmitate ◽  
Open Label ◽  
First Relapse ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
One Year ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Post Hoc

Background: Limited data are available to help identify patients with schizophrenia who are most likely to benefit from long-acting injectable antipsychotics. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of long-acting injectable antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation for preventing relapses, factors influencing time to first relapse, and the effect of different antipsychotic adherence levels on time to first relapse in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis from an open-label, single-arm study of stable patients (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score <70; n=367) receiving paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation at the end of an acute 13-week treatment phase, who entered a naturalistic one-year follow-up period, either continuing with flexibly dosed paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation (75–150 mg eq.) or switching to another antipsychotic(s). Results: There were 362/367 patients (age=31.4±10.75 years) included in the analysis of time to first relapse (primary outcome) and 327/362 patients (39/327, poor antipsychotic adherence (<80%)) willing to receive antipsychotics were included in the exposure/adherence analysis. Overall, 84.6% (95% confidence interval=79.2–88.7) patients remained relapse-free. Poor adherence during follow-up (hazard ratio=2.97, 95% confidence interval=1.48–5.98, p=0.002) and frequent hospitalizations in the previous year (hazard ratio=1.29, 95% confidence interval=1.02–1.62, p=0.03) were associated with a significant risk of shorter time to first relapse in the univariate analysis. In patients with poor adherence, ‘no use’ (hazard ratio=13.13, 95% confidence interval=1.33–129.96, p=0.03) and ‘interrupted use’ (hazard ratio=11.04, 95% confidence interval=1.03–118.60, p=0.047) of paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation (vs continued use) showed a significantly higher risk of relapse; this was not observed in patients with good (≥80%) antipsychotic adherence. No new safety concerns were identified. Conclusion: Continued use of paliperidone palmitate one-month formulation/long-acting injectable antipsychotic was effective in preventing schizophrenia relapses, especially in patients with suboptimal antipsychotic adherence.

Abstract 284: Length Of Stay In Index Hospitalization Of Decompensated Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction As A Factor For 30-day Readmission And 1-year Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Saith ◽  
Ciril Khorolsky ◽  
Anuragh Trikha ◽  
Tamta Chkhikvadze ◽  
Jung-eun Ha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
The United States ◽  
P Value ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Index Hospitalization ◽  
One Year

Introduction: Heart Failure is one of the leading causes of readmission in the United States. Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) accounts for a growing proportion of heart failure hospitalizations and accounts for approximately half of hospitalizations today. Unlike Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF), there are no consensus-driven guidelines for the management of HFpEF. Methods: We collected demographic data, co-morbidities, laboratory and echocardiographic data on patients hospitalized with HFpEF throughout our health care system between August 2016 to August 2017. We assessed length of stay (LOS), whether the patient was re-admitted for any cause within 30 days and whether the patient died within 1 year of index hospitalization. We performed a Wilcoxon rank-sum test comparing patients who were both readmitted within 30 days for any reason and died within 1 year, against patients who were readmitted but were verified alive at one-year follow-up. Results: There were 366 patients hospitalized for HFpEF during the study period. Overall 30-day readmission rate was 24.3%, with a one-year mortality of 19.9%. One-year outcomes was verifiable for 359 patients. There were 27 patients who were readmitted within 30 days and died within one year of follow-up. Median LOS was significantly greater in patients during index hospitalization who died within 1 year of follow-up (Median LOS: 8 days, IQR 5-10 days), compared to patients who were readmitted within 30 days, but were alive at 1-year follow-up (Median LOS: 5 days, IQR: 3-8 days; p-value = 0.001). Conclusions: Among patients who were re-hospitalized within 30 days of an index hospitalization for HFpEF, LOS was significantly greater than patients who died within one year, compared to patients who remained alive at one-year follow-up. This may help identify a high-risk subset on index hospitalization and assist care transition teams and primary care physicians at follow-up in regarding discussions on goals of care and life sustaining treatments.

scholarly journals 2260. Clofazimine Safety and Efficacy for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S773-S774
Author(s):  
Reem Alameer ◽  
Herman Pfaeffle ◽  
Scott Heysell
Keyword(s):  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Continuation Phase ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly detected and challenging to cure given complex drug-resistance patterns and need to use often intolerable drug multidrug regimens over months to years of duration. As such, NTM infection can be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Clofazimine is a repurposed drug used in the treatment of leprosy worldwide and increasingly in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. Some centers in the United States have incorporated clofazimine in the treatment of NTM but experience is limited and procurement restrictions have hampered its more widespread use Methods A prospective cohort study was performed in patients diagnosed with pulmonary or extrapulmonary NTM infection among those treated with clofazimine from a single center serving referrals from across the state of Virginia under an investigational new drug protocol. Data were collected through the center’s electronic medical record and included both pretreatment and follow-up host characteristics, radiological, microbiological and pathology data. Outcomes were assessed, radiological resolution, symptom improvement, and change in pulmonary function test (among patients with cystic fibrosis). Results Thirty-seven patients received clofazimine. NTM species for which the treatment was indicated were M. abscessus in 21 (58%), M. avium complex in 17 (45%) and 3 with M. chelonae. The most common companion drugs for M. abscessus included imipenem, tigecycline, linezolid or tedizolid, amikacin (IV induction followed by inhaled continuation phase) and azithromycin. For other basic patient characteristics refer to Table 1. Survival rate was 97%, while 73.5% had documented improvement in symptoms and only 2.9% had worsening of symptoms. Radiological resolution or partially improving were documented in 38% of the patients. there were no severe adverse events from clofazimine. Conclusion Adding clofazimine to multi-class antibiotic regimens for drug-resistant NTM treatment, including pulmonary M. abscessus disease, was well tolerated and led to clinical improvement in the majority of those treated. Randomized controlled studies are needed to determine the individual impact of clofazimine within and otherwise optimized regimen. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Patterns of Opioid Prescription, Use, and Costs Among Patients With Advanced Cancer and Inpatient Palliative Care Between 2008 and 2014

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e74-e83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriram Yennurajalingam ◽  
Zhanni Lu ◽  
Suresh K. Reddy ◽  
EdenMae C. Rodriguez ◽  
Kristy Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
Symptom Changes

PURPOSE: An understanding of opioid prescription and cost patterns is important to optimize pain management for patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to determine opioid prescription and cost patterns and to identify opioid prescription predictors in patients with advanced cancer who received inpatient palliative care (IPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed data from 807 consecutive patients with cancer who received IPC in each October from 2008 through 2014. Patient characteristics; opioid types; morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) in milligrams per day of scheduled opioids before, during, and after hospitalization; and in-admission opioid cost per patient were assessed. We determined symptom changes between baseline and follow-up palliative care visits and the in-admission opioid prescription predictors. RESULTS: A total of 714 (88%) of the 807 patients were evaluable. The median MEDD per patient decreased from 150 mg/d in 2008 to 83 mg/d in 2014 ( P < .001). The median opioid cost per patient decreased and then increased from $22.97 to $40.35 over the 7 years ( P = .03). The median MEDDs increased from IPC to discharge by 67% ( P < .001). The median Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale pain improvement at follow-up was 1 ( P < .001). Younger patients with advanced cancer (odds ratio [OR[, 0.95; P < . 001) were prescribed higher preadmission MEDDs (OR, 1.01; P < .001) more often in the earlier study years (2014 v 2009: OR, 0.18 [ P = .004] v 0.30 [ P = .02]) and tended to use high MEDDs (> 75 mg/d) during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The MEDD per person decreased from 2008 to 2014. The opioid cost per patient decreased from 2008 to 2011 and then increased from 2012 to 2014. Age, prescription year, and preadmission opioid doses were significantly associated with opioid doses prescribed to patients with advanced cancer who received IPC.

Characterizing Abuse Progression of Immediate-Release Hydrocodone Combination Products

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared Beaumont ◽  
Theresa A. Cassidy ◽  
Natasha Oyedele ◽  
Sven Guenther ◽  
Travis C. Mickle
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Potential Development ◽  
Nonmedical Use ◽  
Opioid Users ◽  
Alternate Routes

This study examined patterns of hydrocodone combination product (HCP) abuse and their potential role in abuse progression of prescription opioids and other drugs. An Internet survey was administered to 472 adult opioid users in the United States who used HCPs nonmedically. Alternate routes (33%) and concomitant drug use (45%) were indicated more frequently during respondent’s most recent HCP nonmedical use compared with their initial use (20% and 24%, respectively). Those initiating HCP nonmedical use during adolescence used alternate routes (e.g., chewing, snorting) throughout their lifetime more frequently (69.5%) compared with those older when initiating HCP nonmedical use (51.0%). A different abuse pattern was observed from first to most recent HCP use, starting with oral administration of intact tablets followed by use of alternate routes and concomitant use of illicit drugs, sometimes use of heroin. These data may inform future public health interventions, including the potential development of abuse-deterrent immediate-release opioids.

The effects of treatment combining an agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone with growth hormone in pubertal patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 795-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Edmond Toublanc ◽  
Claire Couprie ◽  
Philippe Garnier ◽  
Jean-Claude Job
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Growth Hormone Deficiency ◽  
Final Height ◽  
Bone Age ◽  
Hormone Deficiency ◽  
Gnrh Analogue ◽  
Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency ◽  
One Year ◽  
Long Acting

Abstract. The final height of patients treated with growth hormone for isolated growth hormone deficiency has, up to now, been subnormal, with a mean below −2 sd in the series reported, an insufficient height at the onset of puberty and a more or less accelerated bone maturation during puberty being two important factors of the poor results. A long-acting analogue of gonadoliberin, Trp6-GnRH, has been given to GH-treated patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency at the time they reached pubertal stage 2, in combination with unchanged doses of GH, for one year in 11 and for two years in 7 of them. It resulted in an increase in the height age/bone age ratio and a reduction of the height insufficiency for bone age. The increase was slight but significant after one year, and fair after two years, in spite of a reduced annual growth rate. Post-analogue follow-up in 5 patients with continued GH treatment showed a good development of growth and of puberty. It is concluded that combination of the long-acting Trp6-GnRH analogue and GH for 1–2 years in patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency whose puberty starts with a very insufficient height may be an appropriate way to improve their growth parameters. Studies with increased doses of GH or increased frequency of injections could help to optimize the results. Several years of follow-up are needed for demonstrating the results on final height.

The Effects of a Health Partner Program on Alleviating Depressive Symptoms Among Healthy Overweight/Obese Individuals

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-412
Author(s):  
Tingting Liu
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
One Year

Background and Purpose: Although lifestyle interventions have been shown to be effective in losing weight and increasing physical activity in community settings, little is known whether these programs may also ameliorate negative mood states in healthy overweight/obese adults when such programs are delivered in workplace settings. The aim of the study was to determine whether a health partner program may alleviate depressive symptoms among healthy overweight/obese individuals at 1 year. Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed using the Center for Health Discovery and Well Being database at Emory University in the United States. A total of 297 healthy overweight/obese university employees were recruited from the health partner program. Participants worked with health partners to establish an individualized health action plan, which might include changes in diet or exercise, modification of risk-related behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, alcohol use), and stress reduction strategies such as yoga. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline and one-year follow-up. Results: At baseline, 9.7% of participants had depressive symptoms. At one-year follow-up, these participants had a small-to-moderate improvement in depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = 0.423), and the changes in depressive symptoms were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Implications for Practice: Since overweight/obese individuals are more likely to experience depressive symptoms than normal-weight individuals, early interventions to steer these individuals to better mental health are therefore essential. This study has demonstrated the potential benefits of a health partner program on alleviating depressive symptoms among overweight/obese individuals and this should be integrated into clinical practice.

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