McCarthy DM, Mycyk MB, DesLauriers CA. Hospitalization for caffeine abuse is associated with abuse of other pharmaceutical products.
Am J Emerg Med 2008;
26:799-802. [PMID:
18774047 DOI:
10.1016/j.ajem.2007.10.018]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2007] [Revised: 10/23/2007] [Accepted: 10/24/2007] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics and outcomes of patients seeking treatment for abuse of supplemental caffeine.
METHODS
This was a 3-year analysis conducted of all consecutive cases involving caffeine abuse in patients 10 years and older reported to a regional poison center. Excluded were suicide attempts, therapeutic errors, and cases involving only a coffee or tea product.
RESULTS
Two hundred fifty-four cases met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 20.5 years, 50% were women. Caffeine was in the form of a nondietary medication in 201 cases, a dietary supplement in 35 cases, and a caffeine-enhanced beverage in 35 cases. Caffeine was abused alone in 174 (68%), with alcohol in 7, illegal drugs in 6 cases, and with other pharmaceutical products in 81 (29%) cases. Thirty-four patients (13% of total) were hospitalized for medical complications from caffeine. Only concomitant abuse of other pharmaceutical products was associated with hospitalization (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.8-8.8; P = .0004).
CONCLUSION
In this cohort, supplemental caffeine was abused primarily by young adults. Concomitant recreational abuse of other pharmaceuticals was associated with hospitalization and warrants further investigation.
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