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Table 2 Clinical characteristics of acute cocaine intoxication

From: Acute cocaine-related health problems in patients presenting to an urban emergency department in Switzerland: a case series

 

All cases

Use of cocaine with other drugs

Use of cocaine alone

 

No. (%)

No. (%)

No. (%)

 

Total N = 165

Total N = 138

Total N = 27

Severity of poisoning

   

Severe poisoning

21 (13)

21 (15)

0 (0)*

Cardiovascular

   

Chest pain

35 (21)

32 (23)

3 (11)

Palpitations

32 (19)

23 (17)

9 (33)

Dyspnea

21 (13)

16 (12)

5 (19)

Hypertension (systolic pressure >140 mmHg)

87 (53)

70 (51)

17 (63)

Tachycardia (>100 beats per minute)

72 (44)

62 (45)

10 (37)

Myocardial infarction

2 (1)

2 (1)

0 (0)

Hyperthermia >38.0°C

15 (9)

12 (9)

3 (11)

Hypoxemia (oxygen saturation <95%)

20 (12)

18 (13)

2 (7)

Psychiatric

   

Anxiety

60 (36)

46 (33)

14 (52)

Restlessness

60 (36)

47 (34)

13 (48)

Hallucinations, paranoia, or psychosis

23 (14)

14 (10)

9 (33)

Agitation

37 (22)

28 (20)

9 (33)

Depression

32 (19)

28 (20)

4 (15)

Insomnia

18 (11)

18 (13)

0 (0)

Suicide ideation

15 (9)

12 (9)

3 (11)

Disorientation

17 (10)

15 (11)

2 (7)

Neurologic

   

Impaired consciousness, GCS <9

17 (10)

15 (11)

2 (7)

Impaired consciousness, GCS 9-12

10 (6)

10 (7)

0 (0)

Impaired consciousness, GCS <13

27 (16)

25 (18)

2 (7)

Dizziness

24 (15)

21 (15)

3 (11)

Headache

16 (10)

14 (10)

2 (7)

Paresthesia

15 (9)

11 (8)

4 (15)

Seizure

3 (2)

2 (1)

1 (4)

Tremor

3 (2)

3 (2)

0 (0)

Stroke

1 (1)

1 (1)

0 (0)

Miscellanous

   

Weakness

50 (30)

49 (36)

1 (4)

Nausea or vomiting

25 (15)

21 (15)

4 (15)

Myocloni or muscle cramps

9 (5)

7 (5)

2 (7)

Muscle pain

12 (7)

10 (7)

2 (7)

Abdominal pain

15 (9)

13 (9)

2 (7)

Elevated creatine kinase (>250 U/L)

73 (44)

62 (45)

11 (41)

  1. *significant group difference (Fisher’s exact test, *p < 0.05).