Mortality associated with bacterial and fungal infections and overdose among people with drug use diagnoses

Abstract

Purpose: Hospital visits for drug use-related bacterial and fungal infections have increased alongside overdose deaths. The incidence of mortality from these infections and the comparison to overdose mortality is not established.

Methods: This cohort study examined mortality outcomes among adults with drug use diagnoses who were insured by public and private plans during 2007 through 2018 in North Carolina. We examined bacterial- and fungal infection-related mortality and overdose mortality using cumulative incidence functions.

Results: Among 131,522 people with drug use diagnoses, the median age was 45 years (interquartile range: 31-57), 58% were women and 65% had an opioid use disorder diagnosis. The 1-year incidence of bacterial and fungal infection-associated mortality was progressively higher as age increased (35-49 years: 9 per 10,000 people, 50-64 years: 23 per 10,000, 65+ years: 50 per 10,000 people). Conversely, the 1-year incidence of overdose mortality was markedly lower among older adults compared to those under the age of 65 (18-34 years: 34 deaths per 10,000 people; 35-49 years: 47 per 10,000; 50-64 years: 41 per 10,000; 65+ years: 9 per 10,000).

Conclusions: Bacterial and fungal infections and overdose were notable causes of death among adults with drug use diagnoses, and varied by age group.

Keywords: Bacterial infections; Drug overdose; Injection drug use; Mortality; Opioid use disorder.