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Table 4 Clinical features of poisoning involving central stimulant drugs – hospital ED patients

From: Poisoning with central stimulant drugs: an observational study from Oslo, Norway

 

Amphetamine n (%)

Cocaine n (%)

MDMA n (%)

Multiple n (%)

Total n (%)

p value

Cardiac arresta

1 (0.8)

1 (3.1)

-

3 (6.0)

5 (2.4)

0.20

Tachypnoea (RR ≥ 20/min)a

33 (27.3)

11 (34.4)

3 (37.5)

20 (40.0)

67 (31.8)

0.41

Bradypnoea (RR < 10/min)a

9 (7.4)

1 (3.1)

-

4 (8.0)

14 (6.6)

0.88

Tachycardia (HR ≥ 100/min)a

30 (24.8)

17 (53.1)

5 (62.5)

17 (34.0)

69 (32.7)

0.005

Bradycardia (HR < 50/min)a

12 (9.9)

1 (3.1)

1 (12.5)

3 (6.0)

17 (8.1)

0.46

Hypertension (SBP ≥ 180 mmHg)

11 (9.1)

10 (31.3)

4 (50.0)

7 (14.0)

32 (15.2)

0.001

Hypotension (SBP ≤ 90 mmHg)

19 (15.7)

4 (12.5)

1 (12.5)

8 (16.0)

32 (15.2)

0.97

Hyperthermia (tp ≥ 39.0 °C)

8 (6.6)

2 (6.3)

-

1 (2.0)

11 (5.2)

0.68

Level of consciousnessa,b

0.035

GCS score 15

31 (26.5)

16 (50.0)

3 (37.5)

11 (22.9)

61 (29.8)

GCS score 8–14

43 (36.8)

10 (31.3)

5 (62.5)

18 (37.5)

76 (37.1)

GCS score ≤ 7

43 (36.8)

5 (18.8)

-

19 (39.6)

68 (33.2)

Vomiting

8 (6.6)

5 (15.6)

-

8 (16.0)

21 (10.0)

0.15

Headache

11 (9.1)

5 (15.6)

-

2 (4.0)

18 (8.5)

0.29

Anxiety

66 (54.5)

22 (68.8)

6 (75.0)

31 (62.0)

125 (59.2)

0.37

Hallucinations

15 (12.4)

8 (25.0)

4 (50.0)

11 (22.0)

38 (18.0)

0.021

Agitation

51 (42.1)

12 (37.5)

4 (50.0)

25 (50.0)

92 (43.6)

0.66

Psychosis

10 (8.3)

5 (15.6)

-

6 (12.0)

21 (10.0)

0.51

Seizures

12 (9.9)

3 (9.4)

1 (12.5)

6 (12.0)

22 (10.4)

0.92

Palpitations

4 (3.3)

4 (12.5)

-

2 (4.0)

10 (4.7)

0.21

Chest pain

5 (4.1)

7 (21.9)

-

4 (8.0)

16 (7.6)

0.016

Arrhythmias

5 (4.1)

8 (25.0)

-

5 (10.0)

18 (8.5)

0.005

Hyperlactataemia (≥ 3.0 mmol/L)a

9 (7.4)

9 (28.1)

1 (12.5)

9 (18.0)

28 (13.3)

0.011

Total

121 (100)

32 (100)

8 (100)

50 (100)

211 (100)

 
  1. ED Emergency department, GCS Glasgow Coma Scale, HR Heart rate, MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, RR respiratory rate, SBP Systolic blood pressure, tp temperature
  2. aAt presentation
  3. bMissing: 6 (amphetamine 4, multiple 2)