Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Amphetamine Associated Emergency Department Visits at a...

To investigate the demographic and clinical profiles of patients presenting with amphetamine-related emergencies at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Amphetamine use is an escalating public health issue linked to a rise in emergency department (ED) visits.

This retrospective study encompasses 14 years and focuses on individuals diagnosed with amphetamine-related toxicity.

Among the 659 cases studied, a predominant 96% were male, with over half (52%) aged between 19 and 30 years. Most patients (91%) were Saudi nationals. The leading cause of presentation was trauma, accounting for 24% of cases. This was followed by altered mental status (14%), seizures (10%), and acute intoxication (6%). Cardiovascular issues, such as chest pain, were noted in 6% of cases. ED stays varied in duration: 35% of patients remained in the ED for 4 to 8 h, while 28% stayed for more than 12 h. Weekend presentations made up 40% of the total cases, with a notably higher proportion of male patients presenting on weekends (99%) than on weekdays (95%). No significant differences were detected between visits during salary weeks compared to non-salary weeks.

Amphetamine-related ED visits primarily involve young adult males, with trauma as the most common presenting complaint. The incidence of these visits did not differ significantly between salary and non-salary periods.