Abstract
Introduction: In 2019, Scotland reported the highest number of drug deaths amongst EU countries. Of the 1,264 drug deaths reported in 2019, 94% were related to polysedative use. Studies have proposed a relationship between opioid use and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the concomitant use of sedatives and opioids has been associated with lethal cardiopulmonary events. However, evidence is still limited for the relationship between polysedative use and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the association between polysedative use and the underlying cardiovascular pathologies in drug deaths. Methods: This study consisted of a post-mortem investigation of 436 drug deaths. Data extracted from post-mortem reports included socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age), cardiovascular pathologies (e.g., atherosclerosis, atheroma, and inflammation), in addition to the presence of opioids (e.g. methadone, heroin) and other substances (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepine) in the blood of the deceased. Stepwise multiple regression models were employed to identify which substances predicted cardiovascular pathologies. Results: The presence of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol in the blood of the deceased predicted overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) severity [R2 = 0.33, F (5, 430) = 39.64, p < 0.0001; adjusted R2 = 0.32, f2 = 0.49]. Positive Beta coefficients may indicate an exacerbation of CVD (B = 0.48 95% CI = 0.25, 0.70) due to the presence of opioids in the blood of the deceased. Negative associations may instead indicate a relative protective effect of alcohol (B = −0.2, 95% CI = −0.41, −0.00) and benzodiazepines (B = −0.29, 95% CI = −0.48, −0.09) on CVD. Conclusion: These findings may inform national clinical guidelines on the need to monitor individuals who abuse opioids for presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors pathologies and provide timely interventions to reduce mortality in the population.
Highlights
In 2019, Scotland reported the highest number of drug deaths amongst EU countries
Our study showed similar descriptive statistics to the 2021 EMCDDA report (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), 2021) by revealing the presence of opioids in 77% of drug related deaths (DDs) and confirming opioid abuse as the fulcrum of Scotland’s drug crisis
A significant positive association was identified between opioids use and CVD severity in DDs
Summary
In 2019, Scotland reported the highest number of drug deaths amongst EU countries. The present study aimed to investigate the association between polysedative use and the underlying cardiovascular pathologies in drug deaths. Substance use is associated with an alarmingly high morbidity and mortality, creating challenges to health care systems around the world (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), 2021). Drug-related mortality accounts for a substantial percentage of premature deaths in many European countries among high-risk drug users (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), 2021). In Europe, over 9,200 drug related deaths (DDs) are reported yearly, of which opioid abuse contributes to 80–90% (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), 2021). In 2019, Scotland reported the highest number of DDs amongst EU countries (National Records of Scotland, 2019). Of the 1,264 DDs reported in 2019, 1,205 were related to opioid use (e.g., heroin, morphine, methadone), and 1,040 to additional street and/or prescribed benzodiazepine use (e.g., diazepam, etizolam)
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