Health-Related Quality of Life and Recovery Capital Among Recovery Residents Taking Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Texas

Abstract

Background Recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) includes improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and is supported by recovery capital (RC). Little is known about RC and HRQoL among recovery residents taking medication for OUD (MOUD). Methods Cross-sectional analyses of data collected from 355 residents in 14 recovery homes were conducted. We described HRQOL (EQ-5D-5L health dimensions- mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) and RC (the Assessment of Recovery Capital scores) and examined their associations using T-, Chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests. Results Most participants were 35 + years (50.7%), male (58.9%), non-Hispanic White (68.4%), heterosexual (82.8%), and unemployed (66.0%). The majority reported anxiety/depression (78.4%) and pain/discomfort (55.7%) problems. Most participants had high social (65.4%), personal (69.0%), and total (65.6%) RC. Age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, and comorbid diagnoses were associated with HRQOL. Low personal RC was associated with mobility problems (aOR = 0.43, CI = 0.24–0.76). Low personal (aOR = 0.13, CI = 0.04–0.41) and total (aOR = 0.20, CI = 0.07–0.60) RC were associated with problems conducting self-care. Low personal (aOR = 0.25, CI = 0.11–0.57) and total (aOR = 0.43, CI = 0.22–0.83) RC were associated with problems conducting usual activities. Low personal (aOR = 0.37, CI = 0.20–0.68) and total (aOR = 0.55, CI = 0.34–0.90) RC were associated with pain/discomfort problems. Low personal (aOR = 0.33, CI = 0.15–0.73) and total (aOR = 0.20, CI = 0.10–0.41) RC were associated with anxiety/depression problems. Social RC was not associated with HRQOL. Conclusions Personal and total RC predict HRQOL. Our findings underscore the importance of ensuring residents are not only linked to MOUD but their RC should be routinely assessed and enhanced to support their recovery and improve HRQOL.