BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cocaine is directly related to the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We analyzed the differential characteristics of consumers who suffer an ACS in our environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 914 patients with ACS who entered consecutively to our hospital. RESULTS: Thirty four patients were consumers (3.7%, CI95%: 2.7-5.2), with an average age of 40.1+/-9.1 years, significantly lower than non-consumers (63.6+/-12.15 years, P<.001). The prevalence increased progressively in younger groups. Most were men (82.4%), with higher consumption of tobacco (88.2% vs. 34.2%, P<.001) and other illegal drugs (35.3% vs 0.9%, P<.001). By contrast, they had less frequently hypertension (26.5 vs. 60.5%, P<.001) or diabetes (11.7 vs. 39.8%, P<.001). There was single vessel disease in 44.1%, and a coronary angiography without significant lesions in 20.6% cases. CONCLUSIONS: The typical patient with ACS who consumes cocaine is usually a young man, who often takes other drugs and with a lower prevalence of classic risk factors. These data have to be taken into account when considering preventive and therapeutic manoeuvres.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Cocaine is directly related to the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We analyzed the differential characteristics of consumers who suffer an ACS in our environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 914 patients with ACS who entered consecutively to our hospital. RESULTS: Thirty four patients were consumers (3.7%, CI95%: 2.7-5.2), with an average age of 40.1+/-9.1 years, significantly lower than non-consumers (63.6+/-12.15 years, P<.001). The prevalence increased progressively in younger groups. Most were men (82.4%), with higher consumption of tobacco (88.2% vs. 34.2%, P<.001) and other illegal drugs (35.3% vs 0.9%, P<.001). By contrast, they had less frequently hypertension (26.5 vs. 60.5%, P<.001) or diabetes (11.7 vs. 39.8%, P<.001). There was single vessel disease in 44.1%, and a coronary angiography without significant lesions in 20.6% cases. CONCLUSIONS: The typical patient with ACS who consumes cocaine is usually a young man, who often takes other drugs and with a lower prevalence of classic risk factors. These data have to be taken into account when considering preventive and therapeutic manoeuvres.
Authors: Marcos R Esteban; Sara M Montero; José J A Sánchez; Horacio P Hernández; José J G Pérez; Julio H Afonso; Del C R Pérez; Buenaventura B Díaz; Antonio C de León Journal: Open Cardiovasc Med J Date: 2014-07-25