Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Prevalence of illicit drug use in young patients with sudden cardiac death
Authors' conclusion
Approximately one-third of young patients with SCD have positive toxicology at the time of death or reported frequent use of illicit drugs, with high rates of polysubstance abuse.
Study context
- Population
- Young patients (18–50 years) with OHCA of confirmed cardiac cause (sudden cardiac death (SCD)), April 2019 to April 2021523 with toxicology
- Participants
- 554 patients
- Exposure
- Illicit drug use vs no illicit drug use
- Illicit drug usen = 170
- Outcome
- Rate of illicit drug use in young patients with SCD
Methodological detailsstatewide registry
- Statewide registry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Illicit drug use
| Group | Value | Positive toxicology | Negative toxicology but reported regular use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illicit drug use | 32.5% | 138 | 32 |
Illicit drug use
Value32.5%
Positive toxicology138
Negative toxicology but reported regular use32
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · male 81.2% vs 72.3% | P = 0.028 |
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · smokers 38.8% vs 19.8% | P ≤ 0.0001 |
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · excess alcohol 30.6% vs 20.6% | P = 0.012 |
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · psychiatric diagnosis 38.8% vs 25.7% | P = 0.002 |
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · BMI 29.4 kg/m² vs 31.7 kg/m² | P = 0.0063 |
| Baseline characteristics, illicit drug use vs noneIllicit drug use vs No illicit drug use · hypertension 10.6% vs 18.6% | P = 0.019 |
Activity at death
- Sedentary
- 47.5%
- During sleep
- 45.8%
Coronary disease or cardiomyopathy
- No differences after accounting for baseline differences
Drugs identified
- Cannabis (most common)
- 106
- Polysubstance abuse
- 25
Original publication
Prevalence of illicit drug use in young patients with sudden cardiac death. Heart Rhythm. Published 8 June 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →