Toxico-epidemiological study of acute Amphetamine-type stimulant intoxication in Isfahan, Iran

Introduction Use of psychoactive substances, specially methamphetamine and amphetamine-type stimulants (TTS), is among the most abuse problems in Iran. These psychoactive substances are highly addictive and have lots of destructive effects on different parts of the body especially on the central nervous system. In recent years this kind of drug abuse, has been widely spread among Iranien youth. This study was conducted to determine toxicoepidemiological characteristics of ATS poisoning in Isfahan, Iran. Methods In this crosssectional study, medical record of all ATS poison people admitted to Khorshid University Hospital between 2013-2016, were reviewed and cases with more than 40% missing data in medical history were excluded. Data were statistically described and possible correlations between epidemiological features and consequences were analyzed using Chi-square test and fisher exact test for qualitative variables and Mann-Whitney test for abnormal continuous variables. Toevaluate factors effecting length of hospitalization linear regression model was performed respectively. Analysis carried out at 5% confidence intervals using SPSS. Results Of the 294 cases poisoning, most of them were committed intentionally and due to abuse of methamphetamine(97.3%). The age group of 18-45 (87%) and the northern region of Isfahan (43.2%) had the highest frequency of poisoning. The most common symptom among patients was agitation (24.8%). In this study, 98/6% had been discharged without complications. Death was reported in 4 cases(1.4%). Patients gender (p<0.001 , B= 0.181), material status (p<0.001, B=120), route of exposure (p<0.001, B=455) and using other drugs with ATS (p<0.001, B=0.68) effected the length of patient hospitalization. Conclusion The highest poisoning occurred in males, free_working, young andmiddle aged (18-45 years old), and in the north of Isfahan city. Having male gender, being single, using any other drugs with ATS and using injection or inhalation as route of exposure, increases the length of hospitalization.

کلیدواژه ها:

poisoning ، toxicoepidemiology ، amphetamine ، Isfahan ،