Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Heart Failure and Methamphetamine Abuse

Background: Despite a global epidemic of methamphetamine abuse, methamphetamine-associated heart failure (MethHF) remains poorly understood. We sought to evaluate characteristics and outcomes for patients with MethHF.

Methods: We reviewed the electronic health records of the University of California, San Diego, from 2005 to 2016. We compared characteristics and outcomes between 896 patients with MethHF and 20,576 patients with heart failure (HF) identified using diagnosis codes, urine toxicology, and natriuretic peptides.

Results: Compared with HF, patients with MethHF were younger (50±10 vs 67±16 years), predominantly male (72% vs 54%), and had more psychiatric and substance use comorbidities, including mood/anxiety disorders (29% vs 16%) and opioid use (44% vs 7%). MethHF had a higher 5-year HF readmission rate (64±4% vs 45±1%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.53, P < .001) and a lower 10-year total mortality rate (25±3% vs 28±1%; HR 0.85, P = .09). Predictors of poor outcomes included mood/anxiety disorders (HF readmission HR 1.41, P = .04) and opioid abuse (mortality HR 1.52, P = .04).

Conclusions: Patients with MethHF are frequently encumbered by psychiatric and substance abuse comorbidities, and carry a substantial risk of HF readmission and mortality. Comprehensive efforts are needed to stem this emerging epidemic.