Table 2. Associations Between Patient Characteristics and Treatment Modality Among VHA Patients Who Received Buprenorphine for OUD in the Year Following COVID-19–Related Changes.
| Characteristic | aORa (95% CI) for any telehealth vs in-person only among all patients (n = 17 182) | aORa (95% CI) for any video vs telephone only among patients with any telehealth visits (n = 15 071) |
|---|---|---|
| Age group, y | ||
| 18-29 | 1 [Reference] | 1 [Reference] |
| 30-44 | 1.45 (1.08-1.95) | 1.01 (0.78-1.30) |
| 45-64 | 1.77 (1.31-2.39) | 0.78 (0.60-1.01) |
| ≥65 | 1.94 (1.40-2.68) | 0.53 (0.41-0.70) |
| Male sex | 0.74 (0.61-0.91) | 0.81 (0.71-0.92) |
| Race | ||
| White | 1 [Reference] | 1 [Reference] |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1.07 (0.59-1.94) | 0.98 (0.67-1.44) |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.76 (0.46-1.26) | 1.07 (0.74-1.54) |
| Black | 0.71 (0.61-0.84) | 0.73 (0.64-0.83) |
| Unknown | 0.77 (0.62-0.97) | 0.95 (0.80-1.12) |
| Hispanic ethnicity | 0.75 (0.59-0.94) | 0.90 (0.75-1.07) |
| VA eligibility status | ||
| Non-service connected | 1 [Reference] | 1 [Reference] |
| Service connection | ||
| <50% | 1.11 (0.96-1.30) | 1.13 (1.02-1.26) |
| 50%-100% | 1.24 (1.09-1.41) | 1.28 (1.16-1.40) |
| Rurality | ||
| Urban | 1 [Reference] | 1 [Reference] |
| Large rural | 1.13 (0.91-1.38) | 1.02 (0.88-1.18) |
| Small/isolated rural | 1.25 (0.97-1.62) | 0.97 (0.82-1.15) |
| Unknown | 0.88 (0.62-1.25) | 0.91 (0.69-1.21) |
| Homelessness/housing instability | 1.08 (0.95-1.23) | 0.81 (0.73-0.89) |
| Alcohol use disorder | 0.84 (0.74-0.95) | 0.98 (0.90-1.08) |
| Cannabis use disorder | 0.88 (0.77-1.02) | 0.97 (0.86-1.08) |
| Stimulant use disorder | 0.64 (0.57-0.72) | 0.97 (0.89-1.07) |
| Other drug use disorder | 0.68 (0.60-0.77) | 1.02 (0.93-1.13) |
| Depressive disorder | 0.92 (0.82-1.04) | 1.04 (0.96-1.13) |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder | 0.93 (0.82-1.04) | 0.97 (0.89-1.05) |
| Anxiety disorder | 1.04 (0.94-1.17) | 1.00 (0.92-1.08) |
| Serious mental illness | 0.81 (0.71-0.92) | 1.05 (0.95-1.16) |
| No. of Elixhauser comorbidities (excluding OUD) | ||
| 0 | 1 [Reference] | 1 [Reference] |
| 1 | 0.98 (0.79-1.22) | 1.10 (0.95-1.26) |
| 2 | 1.07 (0.85-1.34) | 1.10 (0.95-1.27) |
| ≥3 | 0.95 (0.75-1.20) | 1.08 (0.93-1.25) |
Abbreviations: aOR, adjusted odds ratio; OUD, opioid use disorder; VHA, Veterans Health Administration.
a
Adjusted for all other covariates in the model.