Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy Enhances Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

Recent research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 Meeting highlights the positive impact of treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnant women on both maternal and neonatal health. The study, conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, involved over 14,000 pregnant women enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid between 2010 and 2021. It found that women with OUD who received buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid dependency, experienced significantly lower rates of preterm birth, severe health complications, and infant hospitalizations in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Dr. Stephen Patrick, the lead author, emphasized that while treatment with medications like buprenorphine is known to reduce the risk of overdose death among pregnant women with OUD, its benefits for the babies were less clear until now. The findings reveal a profound reduction in preterm births, which can have lifelong health implications for children.

Despite the increase in OUD rates among pregnant women—more than fivefold from 1999 to 2017—a significant portion, over half, still do not receive appropriate treatment. The research indicates that infants born to mothers treated with buprenorphine are less likely to be preterm, addressing a major public health concern. Preterm birth is associated with several health issues, including respiratory problems, infections, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays.

The study also uncovered disparities in access to treatment, with Black women being less likely to receive buprenorphine. Experts highlight that addressing these inequalities is critical. Sunaya Krishnapura, a medical student and the study's presenter, stressed the importance of expanding treatment access to promote healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Overall, this research underscores the importance of integrating medication-assisted treatment into prenatal care and developing policies to ensure equitable access, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing the long-term effects associated with opioid use disorder during pregnancy.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-opioid-disorder-treatment-pregnancy-outcomes.html