Recreational drug use poses significant health risks, particularly concerning cardiovascular health. Recent findings presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024 reveal the alarming impact of recreational drugs on the likelihood of repeat serious cardiovascular events. The study underscores the urgent need for healthcare systems to address drug use effectively within cardiac care settings.

Study Insights from the ESC Congress 2024

The research, conducted as part of the Addiction in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ADDICT-ICCU) study, investigated the prognostic impact of recreational drug use on patients admitted to intensive cardiac care units (ICCU) across 39 centres in France. Over two weeks in April 2021, systematic urinary testing revealed that 11% of patients had recently used recreational drugs, including cannabis, heroin, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA.

Key Findings

Patients with a recent history of recreational drug use faced a tripled risk of experiencing a repeat serious cardiovascular event, such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack, or stroke, within one year of their initial admission. After adjusting for various factors, including age, sex, and existing health conditions, recreational drug use remained an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

The study found that among 1,392 patients screened, 64 (4.6%) experienced cardiovascular deaths, with a higher incidence among drug users (5.7%) compared to non-users (4.5%). Non-fatal heart attacks occurred in 24 patients (1.7%), with drug users showing a higher incidence (5.1%) compared to non-users (1.3%). Strokes were similarly more common among drug users (1.9%) than non-users (0.6%).

Specific Drug Risks

The type of drug used also influenced cardiovascular risk. MDMA users exhibited a 4.1 times increased risk, those using heroin and other opioids faced a 3.6 times higher risk, and cannabis users had a 1.8 times increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. These statistics highlight the varying impacts of different substances on heart health.

Healthcare Implications

Given the significant risks associated with recreational drug use, the study’s authors advocate for routine screening of ICCU patients for recent drug use. This proactive approach could enhance risk stratification and enable personalised care strategies, including facilitating drug withdrawal programs. Despite the high rate of underreporting drug use, systematic screening is not yet recommended by current guidelines but could provide critical insights into patient care.

Source: ESC