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

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.