The parenteral drug addict in the emergency service

• Published in: Anales de medicina interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984) Vol. 8; no. 10; p. 477
• Main Authors: Lahoz Rallo, C, Mostaza Prieto, J M, Valencia Ortega, M E, Fernández Martín, J, Michan Doña, A, Juárez Alonso, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.10.1991
• Subjects: Age Factors; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Overdose - epidemiology; Drug Overdose - etiology; Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Heroin - adverse effects; Heroin Dependence - complications; Heroin Dependence - epidemiology; HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - epidemiology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - etiology; Spain
• ISSN: 0212-7199

Clinical and epidemiological features of intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), who attended the emergency department between 1984 and 1988, were studied. The number of cases treated over these 4 years had increased three-fold (256 vs 724). The median age had increased by 3 years (p less than 0.01). The sex ratio had not changed. A third of the cases knew that they were HIV-seropositive in 1988. The main reason for consultation in 1984 was overdosage and in 1988 it was fever. The rate of admission was similar in both years (around 21%). There was a significant increase in admissions caused by respiratory diseases in 1988 (p less than 0.0001) and a significant decrease of admissions caused by overdosage (p less than 0.001).