@article{ref1,
title="Gender differences in clinical characteristics of emergency department patients involving illicit drugs use with analytical confirmation",
journal="Journal of the Formosan Medical Association",
year="2022",
author="Weng, Te-I. and Chen, Lian-Yu and Chen, Hsien-Yi and Yu, Jiun-Hao and Su, Yu-Jang and Liu, Sung-Wei and Tracy, Derek K. and Chen, Yen-Chia and Lin, Chih-Chuan and Fang, Cheng-Chung",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: To compare gender differences in socio-demographics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory test results of individuals who visited emergency departments (EDs) involving drug use. <br><br>METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data from 10 hospitals in Taiwan on drug-related ED visits from May 2017 to December 2020. We then examined the gender differences in their socio-demographics, clinical manifestations, urine toxicological results, and other laboratory tests results using chi-square or multivariable logistic regression. <br><br>RESULTS: Among individuals with drug-related ED visits, there were 546 (73.7%) men and 195 (26.3%) women. The most commonly used drugs were meth/amphetamine, followed by synthetic cathinones, and ketamine and its analogs. Compared to men, women were younger (32.03 ± 10.86 vs. 36.51 ± 10.84 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to use new psychoactive substances (NPS) (p = 0.011). Men were more likely to have human immunodeficiency virus infection (p < 0.001), whereas women were more likely to report psychiatric comorbidities (p = 0.003). Women were less likely to have aggressive behaviors (odds ratio (OR): 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.88). After adjusting for socio-demographics and drug types, women were still less likely to have aggressive behaviors than men (adjusted OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38-0.93). The likelihood of rhabdomyolysis and intensive care unit admission was higher in men (p < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: We found considerable gender differences in clinical characteristics among ED-visiting drug users, which could offer valuable information for the future development of more tailored gender-specific drug prevention and treatment strategies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0929-6646",
doi="10.1016/j.jfma.2022.03.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2022.03.007"
}