High Prevalence of Recreational Drug Use in Cardiac Intensive Care Patients
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Medpage Today
A study conducted in France found that many recreational drug users who suffer acute cardiovascular events end up in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) without disclosing their drug use. The study revealed that 11% of patients admitted for acute cardiovascular events had a positive drug screen, with cannabis being the most commonly used drug. Patients with positive drug screens had a higher risk of in-hospital major adverse events. The findings suggest the potential value of routine urine screening in selected patients with acute cardiovascular events to improve risk stratification in intensive cardiac care units. However, further research is needed to assess the prevalence of recreational drug use and its impact on clinical outcomes.