Chest pain secondary to drug use treated in hospital emergency departments in Spain

Rev Clin Esp (Barc). 2023 Aug-Sep;223(7):450-455. doi: 10.1016/j.rceng.2023.06.002. Epub 2023 Jun 15.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the characteristics of patients with chest pain (CP) associated with recent drug use.

Methods: Study of cases from the REUrHE registry attended in the emergency department of 11 Spanish hospitals for CP following recreational drug use.

Results: CP accounted for 8.97% of attendances (males 82.9%, p<0.001). Cocaine was present in 70% of cases, followed by cannabis (35.7%) and amphetamines and derivatives (21.4%). The most frequent initial symptoms were: palpitations (45.5%, p<0.001), anxiety (42.5%, p<0.001), hypertension (13.6%, p<0.001) and arrhythmias (5.9%, p<0.001). Patients with TD received more treatment (81.9% vs 74.1%; p<0.001), although they were admitted less (7.6%, p=0.0), with no differences in terms of CPR manoeuvres, sedation, intubation, or admission to intensive care (1.9%).

Conclusions: In CP following acute drug intoxication, cocaine use predominates, although cases of cannabis use are increasing.

Keywords: Cannabis; Chest pain; Cocaine; Cocaína; Dolor torácico; Drogas ilegales; Hospital emergency department; Illegal drugs; Urgencias hospitalarias.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • Cannabis*
  • Chest Pain / diagnosis
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Cocaine*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Spain
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Cocaine
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists