STUDY OF METHAMPHETAMINE USE IN PATIENTS REFERRED TO EMERGENCY WARD OF GENERAL HOSPITAL AT NORTH OF IRAN IN 2017

Background and Aim : Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant from the amphetamines group. Acute methamphetamine use effects on the sympathetic system of the body and causes symptoms of increased heart rate, arrhythmias, hypertension, increased respiratory rate, constriction of peripheral blood vessels, hyperthermia and seizures and a variety of other symptoms, including psychiatric symptoms, and can cause irreversible damage to the cerebrovascular system. Due to the numerous clinical manifestations of methamphetamine use, and people may come to emergency wards of general hospitals with one of these signs and symptoms, regarding the widespread use of this substance in our society, further studies are needed.Methods : In a cross-sectional descriptive study, 3263 people admitted to the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Sari in 2017 were studied (available samples). Urinalysis was performed to investigate the use of methamphetamine and clinical findings were recorded. Diagnostic and therapeutic measures of patients with positive and negative urine test were compared with each other.Results : 2084 (63.9%) of patients were male and 1179 (36.1%) were female. The overall prevalence of methamphetamine users who referred to the emergency department was 1.2%, which was significantly higher in men (p = 0.017). The average age of methamphetamine users was 31.23 years. They were more divorced, lower-level educated, unemployed, referred by ambulance or police, and more in the early hours of the night (8pm-12am). There was a statistically significant relationship between seizures (p = 0.003), chest pain (p = 0.000), tachycardia (p = 0.000), palpation (p = 0.000), hypertension (p = 0.002), tachypnea (p = 0.001), visual hallucinations (p = 0.001), auditory hallucinations (p = 0.001), paranoia (p = 0.001), grandiosity delusions (p = 0.035), talkativeness (p = 0.001), suicidal ideas (p = 0.000) ), homicidal ideas (p = 0.001), violence (p = 0.000), disorientation (p = 0.000), and positive methamphetamine test. Conclusion : Due to the variety of symptoms of patients, especially psychiatric, cardiovascular and nervous system symptoms, it is recommended that methamphetamine use be considered in emergency referrals, especially in men in the third decade of life.

Keywords:

Emergency , General hospital , Methamphetamine