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Drug dependence and its risk factors in emergency department patients: A retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Erdal Yavuz1 , Kasim Turgut1 , Umut Gulacti1 , Ugur Lok1 , Erman Altunisik2
Number of views: 101
Objective: To determine the characteristics and risk factors of drug
dependence among patients who were administered drugs with
addictive potential (DAP) in an emergency department (ED).
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included
patients who were administered DAP 3 or more times in the
emergency room between September 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020.
The demographic and baseline information were recorded. All the
prescibed DAP, the reasons to use these drugs, secondary drug
dependence, the department where DAP were first prescribed, types
of doctors who preferred to prescribed DAP, and the risk factors for
the development of drug dependence were determined.
Results: A total of 3 000 patients were screened from medical
records, and among them, 80 patients developed drug dependence.
Drug dependence only developed for tramadol (n=57, 71.3%),
diazepam (n=11, 13.8%), and biperiden (n=12, 15.0%). Tramadol
was the most frequently prescribed drug (n=57, 71.3%). The most
common reason for drug dependence was psychiatric disorders
(n=29, 36.3%). Drug dependence developed in renal colic patients
due to the administration of tramadol (n=7, 100%). On the contrary,
dependence to biperiden were mainly developed in patients with
psychiatric complaints (n=12, 41.4%). The rate of secondary
drug dependence was 15% (n=12). Of the Biperiden users, 41.7%
developed secondary drug dependence on diazepam. Most DAP
were first prescribed in the ED (n=52, 65%), and the specialist
preferred to prescribe DAP (n=43, 53.8%). For the development of
dependence, the presence of renal colic (OR: 3.387, 95% confidence
interval (CI): 1.473-7.788, P=0.004) and low back pain (OR: 5.778,
95% CI: 2.779-12.014, P<0.001) were the risk factors.
Conclusions: Most DAP were first prescribed in the ED
compared to other departments, and specialist are preferred to use
DAP. Tramadol is the most commonly used drugs caused drugdependence. Psychiatric disorder patients are easier to develope
drug dependence. Furthermore, renal colic and low back pain
patients needs more attention to avert drug dependence