Electrocardiographic findings associated with cocaine use in humans: a systematic review

Abstract

Cocaine remains highly prevalent and accessible in the general population, continues to represent one of the most commonly reported substances in drug-related presentations to emergency departments, and is frequently implicated in drug-related deaths. Fatal cardiac arrhythmias are often suspected in the latter cases. In spite of this, its complex effects on the human cardiac conduction system remain poorly elucidated. In this article we sought to systematically review the medical literature to identify the electrocardiographic findings that have been linked to cocaine use in humans in an effort to highlight what physicians can expect to encounter when managing patients using the drug. The evidence is discussed, common findings are emphasized and clinical recommendations are proposed.

Keywords::

• cocaine
• cocaine intoxication
• electrocardiogram
• electrocardiography
• human electrocardiogram

Financial & competing interests disclosure

FD Daniel Ramirez has received an unrestricted grant from the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation of Canada. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.