The mechanisms leading to opioid tolerance or dependence are not well understood and there are currently no biomarkers for predicting who is at risk for development of OUD. The purpose of this project is to support the feasibility of detecting a miRNA bio-behavioral signature of opioid misuse risk that will demonstrate improved predictive precision compared to current tools such as polygenic risk scores (PRS). Specifically, the study will address key goals of the Wellcome Leap program to develop scalable measures assessing individual addiction susceptibility and quantifying addiction risk and progression during prescription drug use. The study will utilize behavioral, genomics, and bioinformatics pipelines to characterize opioid-induced miRNA expression dynamics among trauma and surgical patients prescribed opioids at discharge. Based on results from this study, the research will develop a high-throughput screening assay to predict risk for opioid use disorder (OUD). The hypothesis is that miRNAs will serve as powerful bio-signatures for predicting long-term clinical outcomes in patients treated with opioids for pain management following trauma injury and/or surgery.
The mechanisms leading to opioid tolerance or dependence are not well understood and there are currently no biomarkers for predicting who is at risk for development of OUD. The purpose of this project is to support the feasibility of detecting a miRNA bio-behavioral signature of opioid misuse risk that will demonstrate improved predictive precision compared to current tools such as polygenic risk scores (PRS). Specifically, the study will address key goals of the Wellcome Leap program to develop scalable measures assessing individual addiction susceptibility and quantifying addiction risk and progression during prescription drug use. The study will utilize behavioral, genomics, and bioinformatics pipelines to characterize opioid-induced miRNA expression dynamics among trauma and surgical patients prescribed opioids at discharge. Based on results from this study, the research will develop a high-throughput screening assay to predict risk for opioid use disorder (OUD). The hypothesis is that miRNAs will serve as powerful bio-signatures for predicting long-term clinical outcomes in patients treated with opioids for pain management following trauma injury and/or surgery. The specific aim is to develop a new conceptual framework to validate DNA\< mRNA, and miRNAs as biomarkers of persistent opioid use among patients after traumatic injury and/or surgery. The primary goal is to correlate patterns in miRNA sequencing with persistent opioid use after trauma/surgery. The study will recruit up to 100 adult (\>18 yo) participants prospectively from UC Health sites, including Jacobs Medical Center, Hillcrest Hospital, McGrath Outpatient Pavilion, and Koman Outpatient Pavilion. Eligible participants will be identified by reviewing newly admitted patients in the trauma service and/or surgical suite (same day as surgery preoperatively). The study will collect baseline data including baseline clinical and demographic data, pain/opioid use from surveys/questions, social determinants of health (from survey), and biospecimens (blood for DNA and miRNA sequencing). Data will be collected initially near estimated hospital discharge (baseline), at 7 days post-discharge, 1 month post-discharge, 3 months post-discharge and 6 months post-discharge. The proposed project will identify a miRNA signature associated with risk for persistent opioid use (defined as ongoing opioid use at 1, 3 and 6 months after index time point) in patients following exposure to opiate medication after traumatic injury/surgery. It is expected to demonstrate improved predictive precision with the miRNA signature compared to current tools alone (PRS, ORT). Success of this project will provide the go signal for a subsequent implementation study to develop a miRNA test kit and optimize the use of this screening tool and its potential to inform targeted interventions to prevent persistent opioid use and OUD after traumatic injury/surgery.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, California, United States
RECRUITINGPersistent Opioid Use
We will collect blood from participants (about 15mL total) for DNA, miRNA, and mRNA sequencing. The blood draw for miRNA and mRNA sequencing, DNA genotyping, and bioinformatics analysis will be conducted at baseline and at subsequent in-person time points. All biospecimens will be sequenced and analyzed at UCSD's Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. We will also collect baseline demographic, clinical and social data (including social determinants of health questionnaire, electronic health record data, demographic such as age, sex). These markers will be assessed for association of persistent opioid use defined as ongoing opioid use for more than 3 months after trauma/surgical admission.
Time frame: 3 months after trauma injury/surgery
Pain via Brief Pain Inventory
The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is well-validated in clinical populations and will measure participants' self-reported pain on a 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("most severe pain") scale. We will use this survey to assess for average, minimal, and maximum pain and interference scores at multiple time points
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery
Opioid Use Questionnaire
Opioid use will be collected directly from the electronic health record data and ascertained by patient report at the follow-up time points. At the 1-, 3-, and 6- month time point, we will elicit the average number of pain pills (name, dosing, frequency) over the last 7 days. This will be converted to oral MME.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery
PROMIS-29 Questionnaire
The PROMIS-29 questionnaire assesses a patient's physical and social well-being and measures pain intensity using a single 0-10 numeric rating item and seven health domains (physical function, fatigue, pain interference, depressive symptoms, anxiety, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and sleep disturbance).
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.