Patients with drug-abuse poisoning with and without HIV infection: differential characteristics. / Intoxicaciones por drogas de abuso: características diferenciales en población VIH.

OBJECTIVES: Persons with HIV infection who use illicit drugs have higher morbidity and mortality rates than nonusers with or without HIV infection. The objetive were to detect differences between acute poisoning from illicit drugs in patients with and without HIV infection who are attended in hospital emergency departments, and to identify independent factors associated with a worse prognosis, defined by hospital admission or death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study in 2 hospitals between January 2017 and 31 December 2021. Included were patients with acute illicit drug poisoning with and without HIV infection. RESULTS: Information for 1132 patients was included. The mean (SD) ages of patients with and without HIV infection, respectively, were 38.9 (9.6) years and 32.6 (10.4) years. In patients with HIV, the main drugs used were opioids (279 [85.3%]), cocaine (226 [69.1%]), and amphetamines (153 [46.8%]. None in this group were on methadone substitution therapy for opioid addiction. In patients without HIV infection the main drugs were cocaine (372 [47.2%]) and cannabis (238 [33.8%]). Alcohol was used along with illicit drugs in 387 cases. Multivariate analysis showed that the only variables independently associated with a poor prognosis were HIV infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.19 [1.29-3.11], P .003), age (OR, 1.20 [1.01-1.05], P .003), and acute poisoning from benzodiazepines (OR, 3.48 [2.14-5.66], P .001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was 0.717. CONCLUSION: Certain characteristics distinguish the illicit drug use of patients with HIV infection. HIV infection, age, and the use of benzodiazepines are independently associated with a poor prognosis in acute poisonings.

OBJETIVO: La población VIH, consumidora de drogas de abuso (DA), tiene mayor morbimortalidad en relación con los no consumidores y no VIH. Se investiga si existen diferencias en las intoxicaciones agudas (IA) por DA, en pacientes VIH y no VIH atendidos en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), y se identifican factores independientes de mal pronóstico, definido por ingreso o fallecimiento. METODO: Estudio bicéntrico y observacional de 1 de enero de 2017 al 31 de diciembre de 2021. Se incluyeron pacientes VIH y no VIH atendido en dos SUH por intoxicación por DA. Se recogieron variables demográficas y la sustancia consumida. La variable de resultado principal fue mal pronóstico, definido como ingreso o muerte a los 30 días. RESULTADOS: Se recogieron 1.132 pacientes. La edad media de los pacientes VIH fue 39 ± 10 años, y 33 ± 10 años para los no VIH. En la población VIH predominaron los opiáceos 279 (85,3%) (ninguno de ellos estaba en tratamiento sustitutivo con metadona), la cocaína 226 (30,9%) y las anfetaminas 153 (69,1%), mientras que en la no VIH predominaron la cocaína 372 (47,2%) y el cannabis 238 (33,8%). El etanol se asoció con otras DA en 387 pacientes. El análisis multivariado mostró que las únicas variables independientes de mal pronóstico fueron el VIH [OR 2,19 (1,29-3,11), p 0,003], la edad [OR 1,20 (1,01-1,05), p 0,003], y la IA por benzodiacepinas (BDZ) [OR 3,48 (2,14-5,66), p 0,001], con un área bajo la curva de la característica operativa del receptor de este modelo de 0,717. CONCLUSIONES: Existen diferencias en las características de las IA en pacientes VIH. La infección VIH, la edad y el consumo de BZD son factores independientes de mal pronóstico en las IA.

Intoxicaciones por drogas de abuso: características diferenciales en población VIH / Patients with drug-abuse poisoning with and without HIV infection: differential characteristics

Objetivo: La población VIH, consumidora de drogas de abuso (DA), tiene mayor morbimortalidad en relación con los no consumidores y no VIH. Se investiga si existen diferencias en las intoxicaciones agudas (IA) por DA, en pacientes VIH y no VIH atendidos en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), y se identifican factores independientes de mal pronóstico, definido por ingreso o fallecimiento. Método: Estudio bicéntrico y observacional de 1 de enero de 2017 al 31 de diciembre de 2021. Se incluyeron pacientes VIH y no VIH atendido en dos SUH por intoxicación por DA. Se recogieron variables demográficas y la sustancia consumida. La variable de resultado principal fue mal pronóstico, definido como ingreso o muerte a los 30 días. Resultados: Se recogieron 1.132 pacientes. La edad media de los pacientes VIH fue 39 ± 10 años, y 33 ± 10 años para los no VIH. En la población VIH predominaron los opiáceos 279 (85,3%) (ninguno de ellos estaba en tratamiento sustitutivo con metadona), la cocaína 226 (30,9%) y las anfetaminas 153 (69,1%), mientras que en la no VIH predominaron la cocaína 372 (47,2%) y el cannabis 238 (33,8%). El etanol se asoció con otras DA en 387 pacientes. El análisis multivariado mostró que las únicas variables independientes de mal pronóstico fueron el VIH [OR 2,19 (1,29-3,11), p < 0,003], la edad [OR 1,20 (1,01-1,05), p < 0,003], y la IA por benzodiacepinas (BDZ) [OR 3,48 (2,14-5,66), p < 0,001], con un área bajo la curva de la característica operativa del receptor de este modelo de 0,717. Conclusiones: Existen diferencias en las características de las IA en pacientes VIH. La infección VIH, la edad y el consumo de BZD son factores independientes de mal pronóstico en las IA. (AU)

Objective: Persons with HIV infection who use illicit drugs have higher morbidity and mortality rates than nonusers with or without HIV infection. The objetive were to detect differences between acute poisoning from illicit drugs in patients with and without HIV infection who are attended in hospital emergency departments, and to identify independent factors associated with a worse prognosis, defined by hospital admission or death. Methods: Observational study in 2 hospitals between January 2017 and 31 December 2021. Included were patients with acute illicit drug poisoning with and without HIV infection. Results: Information for 1132 patients was included. The mean (SD) ages of patients with and without HIV infection, respectively, were 38.9 (9.6) years and 32.6 (10.4) years. In patients with HIV, the main drugs used were opioids (279 [85.3%]), cocaine (226 [69.1%]), and amphetamines (153 [46.8%]. None in this group were on methadone substitution therapy for opioid addiction. In patients without HIV infection the main drugs were cocaine (372 [47.2%]) and cannabis (238 [33.8%]). Alcohol was used along with illicit drugs in 387 cases. Multivariate analysis showed that the only variables independently associated with a poor prognosis were HIV infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.19 [1.29-3.11], P < .003), age (OR, 1.20 [1.01-1.05], P < .003), and acute poisoning from benzodiazepines (OR, 3.48 [2.14-5.66], P < .001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was 0.717. Conclusion: Certain characteristics distinguish the illicit drug use of patients with HIV infection. HIV infection, age, and the use of benzodiazepines are independently associated with a poor prognosis in acute poisonings. (AU)

Increasing emergency department admissions for chemsex-related intoxications in Barcelona, Spain, among people living with HIV: an observational study from 2018 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Chemsex is a novel phenomenon referring to the use of drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB)/gamma-butyrolactone (GABA) and mephedrone, to facilitate, enhance, and prolong the sexual experience in men who have sex with men in large cities internationally. There is a growing concern about chemsex and fatal cases among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of chemsex-related intoxications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted in people living with HIV who were admitted for chemsex-related intoxications in an emergency department of a teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from 2018 to 2020. Severe acute intoxications were defined according to the Poisoning Severity Score. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen male patients with a median age of 35.6±7 years were included in the study:15 (13.1%) in 2018, 32 (27.8%) in 2019 and 68 (59.1%) in 2020. All patients had stable housing, 107(93.0%) were Spanish citizen and 32 (27.8%) had mental health disorders. Median CD4 lymphocyte count was 624 (500-765) cells/mm3 and 99 (86.1%) had HIV-1 RNA suppression. Poly-drug use was observed in 51(44.3%) cases and methamphetamine in 75(65,2%) and gammahydroxibutiric acid in 68 (59.1%) were the main drugs used. Potential drug interactions due to the inhibition of cytochrome P450 by antiviral therapy was determined in 36 (31.3%) patients. Severe intoxications cases affecting neurologic and respiratory systems were diagnosed in 12 (10.4%) patients and no patient died. CD4 cell counts ≤500 cells (O.R.:4.2; C.I.95%:1.2-14.6) and mental health disorders (O.R.: 2.9; C. I 95%: 0.8-9.9) were associated with severe acute drug intoxications in the bivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Chemsex-related intoxications are an increasing clinical problem in people living with HIV. Chemsex should be routinely screened and addressed in clinical practice, particularly for people with mental illness and low CD4 cell counts, who are at higher risk for severe intoxications.