Background:

Consumption of illicit drugs (ID) has been associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). There is limited national evidence about the impact of substance use over the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of AMI patients.

Aim:

To describe the prevalence of ID consumption in patients within the Chilean Registry of Myocardial Infarction (GEMI), comparing clinical characteristics, management and outcome according to consumption status.

Material and Methods:

We reviewed data from the GEMI registry between 2001 and 2013, identifying 18,048 patients with AMI. The sample was stratified according to presence or absence of previous ID consumption, comparing different demographic and clinical variables between groups.

Results:

Two hundred eighty five patients (1.6%) had history of ID consumption (cocaine in 66%, cannabis in 35% and central nervous system stimulants in 24.0%). Compared with non-users, ID consumers were younger, predominantly male and had a lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, except for tobacco smoking (86.3% and 42.5% respectively, p < 0.01). Among consumers, there was a higher percentage of ST segment elevation (85.2% and 67.8% respectively, p < 0.01) and anterior wall AMI (59.9 and 49.5% respectively, p = 0.01). Additionally, they had a higher rate of primary angioplasty (48.8% and 25.5% respectively, p < 0.01). There was no difference in hospital mortality between groups when stratified by age.

Conclusions:

A low percentage of patients with AMI had a previous history of ID consumption in our national setting. These patients were younger and had a greater frequency of ST segment elevation AMI, which probably determined a more invasive management.