Study of the Cause-Specific Mortality of Substance Abuse-related Deaths in Kermanshah Province 2010–2015

authors:

avatar Alireza Alikhani 1 , avatar Ebrahim Ghaderi 2 , * , avatar Nader Esmaeilnasab 1 , avatar Farid Najafi 3 , avatar Daem Roshani 2 , avatar Ghobad Moradi 2 , avatar Bijan Nori 2

. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Dept. of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences: Vol.21, issue 3; e69280
published online: December 30, 2017
article type: Original Article
received: September 25, 2017
accepted: December 12, 2017

how to cite: Alikhani A , Ghaderi E , Esmaeilnasab N , Najafi F , Roshani D , et al. Study of the Cause-Specific Mortality of Substance Abuse-related Deaths in Kermanshah Province 2010–2015. J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci. 2017;21(3):e69280. 

Abstract

Introduction: Abuse and dependency on opiates and stimulant substances are a huge challenge to the world today. Because of their potential for causing mortality among consumers in addition to imposing an economic burden and endangering the health of the individual, from the perspective of general public health, this issue is very important to society.

Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study, which included all deaths in 2010–2015 that were referred to Kermanshah forensic medicine in the west of Iran due to the abuse of substances. Data collection used a checklist based on the information contained in the files of the deceased, including demographic information, diagnostic medical records, body examination, and the results of autopsy, toxicology and pathology.

Results: The total recorded deaths included 490 people (458 men, 32 women) with an average age of 35.7 years. The most common types of used substances were opium and its derivatives (59%). In the final diagnosis of deaths, according to autopsy, the bodies had the highest detection rates for pulmonary tuberculosis (37.6%) followed by cardiac arrest (32.2%). It is imperative to note that in 14.5% of the deceased, HIV was diagnosed. Most of the diagnoses of substance abuse were based on urinary samples (57.7%).

Conclusion: Considering the high rates of deaths found on autopsy to be due to tuberculosis, as well as the prevalence of hepatitis and other disorders and concomitant diseases, attention to infection prevention methods and formulation of an application in line with harm reduction policies seems necessary.

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References

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