AUTHOR=Onohuean Hope , Oosthuizen Frasia 

TITLE=Multinational appraisal of the epidemiological distribution of opioid fatalities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1290461

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1290461

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=The global or multinational scientific evidence on the distribution of opioid fatality is unknown. Hence, the current study collects epidemiological characteristics to shed light on the ongoing global/multinational opioid crisis and to promote the development of public health prevention/management strategies.Method: All documents were retrieved on PRISMA standards via electronic databases.Results: Among the 47 articles relevant to our studies, depicts a total population of 101 91, with a prevalence of fatal opioid overdose of 15 022 (14.74%). Fourteen studies report the gender; males 22125 (15.79%) and females 7235 (5.17%), the age distribution indicating age-group (18-34 years) 29272 (31.13%), and <18 years, 25316 (26.92) mostly impacted. Eighteen studies qualified for meta-analysis of the multinational prevalence of opioid fatalities, depicting an overall pool estimate proportion of 19.66%, 95% CI (0.13-0.29), with an I 2 =99.76% by random effect model, and Q statistic of (Q=7198.77, p<0.0001). The Egger test models of publication bias reveal an insubstantial level of bias (p = 0.015). The subgroup analysis indicates the study design (Cohort or Other), others have the highest prevalence estimate of 34.37%, CI (0.1600 0.5901), I 2 =97.04%, and sample size less-than 1000 shows the highest prevalence of 34.66%, CI (0.2039-0.5234), I 2 =97.82% compared to more than 1000 sample size with a prevalence of 12.28%, CI (0.0675-0.2131) I 2 =99.85%. The meta-regression indicates that the sample size (less-than or greater-than 1000), (P=0.0098; R 2 =3.83%) is significantly associated with the observed heterogeneity.