The effects of methamphetamine use on trauma patient outcome

A retrospective review was conducted to analyze the effect of methamphetamine use in trauma patients. Charts of all trauma patients admitted to Kern Medical Center from January 1, 2003, to January 5, 2006 (36 months) were analyzed for length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and number of ICU days, ventilator days, and mortality. Results were compared in patients testing positive for methamphetamine (M+) with those who tested negative (M-). Data were then stratified according to six Injury Severity Score (ISS) groups: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-30. A total of 4759 patients were admitted to the trauma unit, 971 of whom had available urine toxicology results. Six hundred seventy-four tested M- and 297 tested M+. There were no differences in total ICU days or ventilator days in the M+ versus M- patients. There was a higher incidence of assault in the M+ group (P = 0.0001). A trend toward decreased mortality was noted in M+ patients (P = 0.0778). ISS subset analysis demonstrated an increased ICU admission rate in M+ patients in ISS group 1-5 (P = 0.0002). There was also an increased length of stay in M+ patients within the ISS 6-10 group (8 versus 5 days, respectively, P = 0.015).