A latent class analysis of accidental polysubstance overdose deaths in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Boyd, Kristina L. (2020) A latent class analysis of accidental polysubstance overdose deaths in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Background:The overdose mortality rate in Allegheny County has risen from 18.5/100,000 in 2008 to 63.3/100,000 in 2017. Despite most accidental drug poisoning deaths involving more than one drug, patterns in polysubstance overdose deaths are not well understood.

Methods: Polysubstance overdose deaths were identified from Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner (ACOME) data. Drugs present at post-mortem toxicology were categorized using a modified list from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists(CSTE) overdose analysis tool. Latent class analysis (LCA) of decedent-level factors including demographics and drug categories present at post-mortem toxicology were used to identify common patterns within polysubstance overdose deaths.

Results: Among n = 3,749 toxicology reports from the Allegheny County Office ofthe Medical Examiner (ACOME) covering case years (cy) 2008 to 2018, n=2,864 involved more than one drug. LCA identified five latent class (LC) decedent groups associated with polysubstance overdose deaths: featured co-occurring fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (LC1); benzodiazepine presence with other opioid presence (LC2); ages 25-34 years and heroin presence (LC3); female sex, antidepressant presence, and amphetamine presence (LC4); and ages 45-54, black race, cocaine presence, alcohol presence, and fentanyl presence (LC5). LC1 was the largest class, representing 38.7% of all polysubstance overdose deaths.

Conclusion: Among polysubstance overdose deaths, five sub-populations were identified. These findings match findings in the literature and suggest surveillance targets.

Public health significance: This analysis is among the first to characterize accidental polysubstance overdose death in Allegheny County, PA. The composition of the sub-populations identified in this analysis will inform future overdose surveillance policy and outreach.

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Details

Item Type:	University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Boyd, Kristina L. klb223@pitt.edu klb223
ETD Committee:	Title Member Email Address Pitt Username ORCID Thesis Advisor Buchanich, Jeanine M. jeanine@pitt.edu jeanine Committee Member Krafty, Robert rkrafty@pitt.edu rkrafty Committee Member Brink, LuAnn llb38@pitt.edu llb38
Date:	29 January 2020
Date Type:	Publication
Defense Date:	23 October 2019
Approval Date:	29 January 2020
Submission Date:	7 October 2019
Access Restriction:	2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years.
Number of Pages:	38
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Biostatistics
Degree:	MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type:	Master's Thesis
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	latent class analysis, polysubstance, overdose, Allegheny County
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2020 19:15
Last Modified:	01 Jan 2022 06:15
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/37700

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