A Mixed-methods Evaluation of an Addiction/Cardiology Pilot Clinic With Contingency Management for Patients With Stimulant-associated Cardiomyopathy

Objectives: Contingency management (CM) is one of the most effective treatments for stimulant use disorder but has not been leveraged for people with stimulant-associated cardiomyopathy (SA-CMP), a chronic health condition with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a multidisciplinary addiction/cardiology clinic with CM for patients with SA-CMP and to explore barriers and facilitators to engagement and recovery.

Methods: We recruited patients with a hospitalization in the past 6 months, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (<40%) and stimulant use disorder to participate in Heart Plus, a 12-week addiction/cardiology clinic with CM in an urban, safety-net, hospital-based cardiology clinic, which took place March 2021 through June 2021. Contingency management entailed gift card rewards for attendance and negative point-of-care urine drug screens. Our mixed-methods study used the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. We obtained data from the medical record, staff surveys, and qualitative interviews with participants.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were referred, 17 scheduled an appointment, and 12 attended the intake appointment and enrolled in the study. Mean treatment duration was 8 of 12 weeks. Of the 9 participants who attended more than one visit, the median attendance was 82% of available visits for in-person visits and 83% for telephone visits, and all patients reported decreased stimulant use.

Conclusions: Delivering CM through a multidisciplinary addiction/cardiology clinic for patients with SA-CMP was feasible and engaged patients in care. Further research is needed to assess whether this program is associated with improved heart failure outcomes.