Causes of death of patients with methamphetamine dependence: a record-linkage study
Chian-Jue Kuo, Ya-Tang Liao, Wei J Chen, Shang-Ying Tsai, Shih-Ku Lin, Chiao-Chicy Chen, Chian-Jue Kuo, Ya-Tang Liao, Wei J Chen, Shang-Ying Tsai, Shih-Ku Lin, Chiao-Chicy Chen
Abstract
Introduction and aims: Methamphetamine use leads to increased likelihood of premature death. The authors investigated the causes of death and risk of mortality in a large cohort of patients with methamphetamine dependence.
Design and methods: A cohort of 1254 subjects with methamphetamine dependence, admitted to a psychiatric centre in Taiwan from January 1990 to December 2007, was retrospectively studied. Diagnostic and sociodemographic data for each subject were extracted from the medical records based on a chart review process. Mortality data were obtained by linking to the National Death Certification System and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated. The risk and protective factors for all-cause deaths were explored by means of survival analyses.
Results: During the study period, 130 patients died. Of them, 63.1% died unnatural deaths, while the remaining 36.9% died natural deaths. The 1 year cumulative rates for unnatural and natural deaths were 0.018 and 0.006, respectively, and the 5 year rates were 0.046 and 0.023, respectively. The cohort had excessive mortality (SMR = 6.02), and women had a higher SMR for unnatural deaths than men (26.19 vs. 9.82, P = 0.001). For all-cause deaths, comorbidity with other substance use disorders was associated with increased risk of death, despite that being married was associated with a reduced risk.
Discussion and conclusions: A substantial proportion of the deceased died natural deaths, but most died unnatural deaths. The findings show significant evidence to provide valuable insight into premature deaths among methamphetamine-dependent users. This information is valuable for development of prevention and intervention programs.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
© 2010 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3117111/bin/nihms239308f1.jpg)
Source: PubMed