Shane Darke1, Sharlene Kaye, Johan Duflou. 1. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia. ndarc21@unsw.edu.au
Abstract
AIMS: To determine levels of systemic disease among cases of death due to opioid toxicity. DESIGN: Analysis of coronial cases. SETTING: Sydney, Australia. CASES: A total of 841 cases of death due to opioid toxicity (1 January 1998-31 December 2002). FINDINGS: Ventricular hypertrophy was present in 5.9% of cases and severe coronary artery atherosclerosis in 5.7%. Severe coronary pathology was more pronounced among older cases. Pre-existing bronchopneumonia was present in 13.2% of cases. Hepatic pathology was the most common type of pathology, and was far more marked among older cases. Cirrhosis was present in 25.3% of those aged > 44 years. Levels of renal pathology were comparatively low, but were related significantly to increasing age. Systemic disease in more than one organ system was present in 24.4% of cases, and was related to increasing age (44% of those aged > 44 years). The only pathology for which gender was an independent predictor among opioid cases was ventricular hypertrophy, more common in males. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic disease, most prominently liver disease, is common among fatal opioid toxicity cases, and may be a factor in understanding the dynamics and age demographics of opioid-related death.
AIMS: To determine levels of systemic disease among cases of death due to opioid toxicity. DESIGN: Analysis of coronial cases. SETTING: Sydney, Australia. CASES: A total of 841 cases of death due to opioid toxicity (1 January 1998-31 December 2002). FINDINGS:Ventricular hypertrophy was present in 5.9% of cases and severe coronary artery atherosclerosis in 5.7%. Severe coronary pathology was more pronounced among older cases. Pre-existing bronchopneumonia was present in 13.2% of cases. Hepatic pathology was the most common type of pathology, and was far more marked among older cases. Cirrhosis was present in 25.3% of those aged > 44 years. Levels of renal pathology were comparatively low, but were related significantly to increasing age. Systemic disease in more than one organ system was present in 24.4% of cases, and was related to increasing age (44% of those aged > 44 years). The only pathology for which gender was an independent predictor among opioid cases was ventricular hypertrophy, more common in males. CONCLUSIONS:Systemic disease, most prominently liver disease, is common among fatal opioid toxicity cases, and may be a factor in understanding the dynamics and age demographics of opioid-related death.
Authors: Zheng Dai; Marie A Abate; D Leann Long; Gordon S Smith; Theresa M Halki; James C Kraner; Allen R Mock Journal: Forensic Sci Int Date: 2020-05-31 Impact factor: 2.395
Authors: Pooja Lagisetty; Kun Zhang; Rebecca L Haffajee; Lewei Allison Lin; Jason Goldstick; Rebecca Brownlee; Amy Bohnert; Marc R Larochelle Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-05-12 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Janette Baird; Mark Faul; Traci C Green; Jonathan Howland; Charles A Adams; Melinda J Hodne; Nie Bohlen; Michael J Mello Journal: J Trauma Nurs Date: 2019 May/Jun Impact factor: 1.010
Authors: Anand M Prabhakar; Pedro V Staziaki; Richard A P Takx; Brian B Ghoshhajra Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2015-07-25 Impact factor: 2.357