Methamphetamine Use Among Adult Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Single-Center Retrospective
Susan X Zhao1, William Xu2, Mark Jaradeh3
1Division of Cardiology Santa Clara Valley Medical Center San Jose CA USA.
Journal of the American Heart Association
|April 29, 2026
Summary
Methamphetamine-associated acute coronary syndrome (ACS) affects younger men and is linked to worse survival. This highlights the need for targeted prevention strategies for this demographic experiencing ACS.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Methamphetamine-associated acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is understudied.
- Understanding its characteristics and outcomes is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and mortality associated with methamphetamine-associated ACS.
- To identify risk factors and survival outcomes in patients with methamphetamine-associated ACS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-center study of patients aged 18-65 presenting with ACS from 2012-2022.
- Exclusion of cocaine users and non-type 1 myocardial infarction cases.
- Cox proportional hazard regression and survival analyses for all-cause mortality.
Main Results:
- 14.8% of ACS cases were linked to methamphetamine use (194/1309).
- Methamphetamine-associated ACS patients were younger men (median age 52 vs. 57) with more nonobstructive coronary disease (24.2% vs. 10.6%).
- Despite younger age and fewer traditional risk factors, methamphetamine-associated ACS had significantly lower survival (P=0.005), with methamphetamine use being the strongest predictor of mortality (aHR 2.08).
Conclusions:
- ACS related to methamphetamine use is prevalent in younger men, often with adverse social determinants of health.
- Methamphetamine use is a strong independent predictor of mortality in ACS patients.
- Development of tailored prevention strategies for this population is essential.
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