Qadeer, A

Background: Cocaine use and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality trends in the U.S. are underreported. Using the CDC’s Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database, we analyzed the relationship between cocaine use and CVD-related deaths. Methods: We analyzed death certificates from the Multiple Cause of Death dataset to identify CVD-related deaths involving cocaine use. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1 000 000 and annual percentage changes (APCs) were calculated using Joinpoint Regression. Results: From 1999 to 2022, 82 944 deaths were linked to cocaine use and CVDs. AAMRs rose from 9.6 in 1999 to 32 in 2022. Mortality trends varied by demographics and regions. Males and females showed early increases (1999–2006), declines (2006–2012), and sharp rises (2012–2022), with APCs of 11.8% and 12.8%, respectively. Non-Hispanic Black individuals exhibited consistently higher rates than non-Hispanic Whites, though both groups experienced sharp increases starting in 2014 (APCs: 12.5 and 12.7%). Geographic trends revealed early 2000s increases, mid-2000s declines, and rapid rises beginning in the 2010s. The Northeast and South had notable APCs of 13.5 and 12.6% (2013–2022). Rural areas initially showed steeper increases than urban areas but displayed steady upward trends since 2011 (APC: 9.5%). Age-wise, older adults experienced a particularly sharp rise from 2012 to 2022 (APC: 15.0%). Conclusion: Cocaine use and CVD-related mortality rose significantly from 1999 to 2022, with pronounced increases among men, non-Hispanic Black individuals, older adults, urban residents, and those in the South. These findings highlight a growing public health crisis.

Background Patients with substance use disorder (SUD) have high rates of hospitalization, readmission, and prolonged lengths of stay. Objectives To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of addiction consult services in the inpatient setting for patients with SUD. Methods Five databases were systematically searched from their earliest available records through January 2025. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of each study with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, and mean differences were calculated for continuous outcomes. Results The search retrieved 20 studies that met inclusion criteria. The intervention for all studies was an addiction medicine consult, but the definition of this consult varied. The meta-analysis did not detect statistically significant differences in hospital length of stay, hospital readmission, or emergency department visits at 1 year among patients who received the consult compared with those who did not; however, many of these outcomes were likely underpowered. However, addiction medicine consults significantly improved the odds of inpatient initiation of medication for SUD (OR, 7.30; 95% CI, 3.30-16.13; P <.001) and postdischarge SUD treatment linkage and adherence (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 2.06-5.32; P <.001). Conclusion Inpatient addiction consult services are associated with increased inpatient initiation of medication for SUD treatment and postdischarge treatment linkage and adherence. No clear association was identified between the consult and readmissions, emergency department utilization, or length of stay.